1954 Map of Nankoweap

About this map

The Colorado River carves a deep path through this mid-century survey, dividing the high Kaibab Plateau from the Eminence Indian Reservation. In the 1950s, this area remained largely inaccessible except by river or trail, as shown by the remote Cliff Dwellings tucked into the walls of Nankoweap Canyon. The river corridor is punctuated by notorious navigational points like President Harding Rapids and Nankoweap Rapids, while a single Tramway tower on Tatahatso Point suggests specialized industrial or scientific efforts to bridge the gorge. High-elevation landmarks like Mount Hayden and Point Imperial overlook a landscape of complex drainage basins, including South Canyon and Shinumo Wash, where isolated sites like Buffalo Ranch and Big Sheep Corral reveal the area's sparse ranching history amidst the massive geological formations.