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1954 Map of Nankoweap

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Nankoweap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Colorado River whitewater and sheer canyon walls dominate this mid-century survey, which reveals the complex vertical geography where the Kaibab National Forest meets the Grand Canyon National Park. The landscape is a corridor of dramatic drops, punctuated by President Harding Rapids and Nankoweap Rapids. Along the riverbanks, evidence of ancient and modern land use appears in the form of Cliff Dwellings near Nankoweap Canyon and a Tramway Tower on the eastern bank.

On the plateaus and benches above the river, the map records high-altitude landmarks like Saddle Mtn and Point Imperial. These uplands supported early twentieth-century ranching efforts, evidenced by the Buffalo Ranch to the north and the Big Sheep Corral on the Navajo Indian Reservation side. The intricate network of washes, such as Shinumo Wash and Leche-e Wash, illustrates the primary drainage patterns that continue to carve this region's iconic topography.