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1988 Map of Monument Basin

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Monument Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

The Colorado River carves a deep, winding course through the heart of Canyonlands National Park in this late 1980s topographical study. High above the riverbank, the Island in the Sky plateau terminates at Grand View Point, overlooking the intricate erosion of Monument Basin. The landscape is defined by the sharp verticality of the White Rim and isolated formations like Junction Butte, which stands as a prominent sentinel where the terrain drops away into the canyon system.

Evidence of human activity is sparse, concentrated primarily on the plateaus or at the canyon floor. A Radio Tower and Picnic Area are located near the overlooks, while a Campground and various 4wd tracks indicate the limited access into this wilderness. Named side canyons such as Gooseberry Canyon and Dog Leg Canyon feed into the Colorado, which flows past the broad flats of Sheep Bottom. Several Prospect and Prospects labels point toward the region's mineral history.