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1953 Map of Navajo Mountain

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Navajo Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Navajo Mountain dominates the southern landscape of this 1953 survey, a prominent landmark rising above the Navajo Plateau within the Navajo Indian Reservation. The map captures a critical period of geographic transition, showing the Colorado River and San Juan River before the full impact of river management transformed the canyons. The inclusion of Lake Powell as a blue-tinted overlay reflects minor corrections made in the early 1970s, documenting the inundation of Glen Canyon.

Deep canyons such as Forbidding Canyon and Oak Creek snake toward the rivers, leading to the world-renowned Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Remote outposts like the Navajo Mountain Sch and cultural landmarks like War God Spring provide evidence of local habitation and movement across this complex terrain. From the high elevations of Wilson Mesa to the narrow passage of Redbud Pass, the topography reveals the challenging routes used by travelers on the Rainbow Bridge Trail.