1953 Map of Navajo Mountain 4 NW

About this map

The San Juan River defines this high desert landscape within the Indian Reservation in San Juan County, Utah. In the early 1950s, when these aerial photographs were captured, the area remained largely inaccessible, showing the dramatic serpentine path of the river as it carved deep into the sandstone plateau. A rare point of human activity appears at Spencer Camp in the northeastern corner of the sheet, providing a specific point of interest for researchers of the region's mining or exploration history. The topography is meticulously detailed through multiplex methods, revealing the complex drainage patterns and canyon systems that drop toward the riverbed. This preliminary edition was produced by the Geological Survey during a period of intense mapping across the American West, intended to serve until larger 15-minute maps could be completed.