Loading map...

1957 Map of Moqui NW

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Moqui NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Hovenweep National Monument anchors this mid-century topographic study of the high desert along the Colorado-Utah border. The map specifically details the Cutthroat Castle Group Ruins perched on the rim of Hovenweep Canyon, providing a precise record of the archaeological landscape before modern accessibility increased. The terrain is defined by the massive Cajon Mesa, which is dissected by a complex network of drainages including Yellowjacket Canyon and Sandstone Canyon.

Infrastructure in the late 1950s was sparse, centered around the Pleasant View Road and a series of primitive routes like the Jeep Trail and various unmaintained trails. Evidence of early cattle ranching and water management appears in the form of isolated features like the McLean Basin and several small reservoirs and wells scattered across the arid plateau. The transition between Township 37 North and Township 36 North marks a significant survey boundary across this deeply eroded landscape.