1954 Map of Mt. Waas 4 SE

About this map

Kirks Basin and the isolated Sawmill settlement define this mid-century look at the high country spanning the Utah-Colorado border. Mapped just after the post-war uranium boom began to reach these canyons, the landscape is a complex network of high plateaus and deep drainages. The Manti-La Sal National Forest dominates the terrain, where water sources like Pace Lake, Willow Spring, and the Dolores River were vital for the timber and livestock operations that sustained the local economy. The transition from the flatlands of Taylor Flat to the dramatic relief of Sinbad Ridge illustrates the geographic barriers that historically dictated travel and resource extraction in Grand and San Juan Counties. Significant vertical markers such as Vabm 9120 provide precise data points for understanding the steep topography surrounding Saws Hollow.