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1987 Map of Mikes Mesa

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of Mikes Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Lake Powell and the San Juan River dominate this desert landscape, marking the confluence of major waterways within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area during the late 1980s. The map illustrates the profound impact of the reservoir on the regional topography, with the blue expanse of the lake filling deep canyons like Mikes Canyon and winding through the ancient riverbed.

South of the water, the Navajo Indian Reservation occupies the high ground, while the north is defined by the massive verticality of the Red House Cliffs and the plateau of Mikes Mesa. A significant historical and navigational point is found at Clay Hills Crossing, indicating a rare access point to the river amongst the otherwise sheer Clay Hills. This 1987 survey is an essential record of the shoreline and unimproved road networks used by early recreational explorers and tribal residents.