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2010 Map of Navajo Dam

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of Navajo Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

Navajo Reservoir dominates the high desert landscape of Rio Arriba County, where its vast waters are held back by the Navajo Dam. Just below the spillway, the San Juan River flows southwestward past the small settlement of Navajo City. The map reveals a transition from the deep blue of the impounded waters to the arid, complex topography of the south, characterized by prominent landmarks like El Gobernador Knob and the high plateaus of Frances Mesa.

Tracing the movement through this terrain, the survey documents established ranching sites like the Gomez Ranch and natural corridors such as Gobernador Canyon. A network of rural routes, including CO Road 363 and Road 4000, provides access to the mesas and the remote reaches of Frances Creek, illustrating how modern infrastructure follows the ancient paths dictated by the desert floor and sandstone passes like Smith Pass.