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2023 Map of Mitten Rock

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Mitten Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Mitten Rock stands as the primary landmark in this high-elevation corner of the Navajo Nation, where the high desert meets the northern slopes of the Chuska Mountains. The landscape is defined by the massive rising profiles of Beautiful Mountain and the prominent Rock Ridge, punctuated by seasonal water sources like 12R 59 Spring and the Big Gap Reservoir. Drainage patterns are dictated by prominent desert arroyos, including Salt Wash, Little Shiprock Wash, and Dead Mans Wash, which cut through the complex topography.

Transportation through this isolated terrain relies on a network of tribal routes such as Indian Svc Rte 13 and the Red Valley Hwy. These roads trace the ancient geography of the San Juan County borderlands, connecting remote homesteads and traditional grazing lands. The map illustrates a high-desert environment where water remains the most critical geographical marker for those navigating the space between the high peaks and the valley floor.