1983 Map of Moab

About this map

Arches National Park and the sandstone fins of The Windows Section dominate this early 1980s topography, showing a landscape defined by deep incisions from the Colorado River and Dolores River. The settlement of Moab serves as the central hub, situated near the southern edge of the map where Spanish Valley Creek meets the river. To the north, the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracks follow the base of the Book Cliffs, connecting the high-desert outposts of Thompson, Cisco, and Sagers. This period reveals an active mineral economy in the red rock country, with Telluride Mines and the Cactus Rat Mine marking the extraction history of the Yellow Cat Flat. From the high vistas of Dead Horse Point to the monoliths of Courthouse Towers, the map details a region transitioning from industrial mining toward its identity as a recreational destination.