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1987 Map of Moss Back Butte

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

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Natural Bridges National Monument dominates the eastern portion of this San Juan County landscape, showcasing massive geological formations like Sipapu Bridge and Kachina Bridge. This 1987 survey details a remote section of Utah where deep drainages like White Canyon and Armstrong Canyon carve through the high desert. Historical human passage is marked by the Emigrant Trail crossing the southern reaches near Step Point.

Evidence of archaeological and mineral interest appears throughout the canyon systems, from the Horse Collar Ruin to various Prospects and the uniquely named Atomic Rock. The topography is defined by sharp rises and massive plateaus, including Moss Back Butte and the Tables of the Sun, providing a clear view of the region's complex erosional history before modern development significantly altered these primitive routes.