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1990 Map of Needle Rock

Name: 1990 Topographic Map of Needle Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1995
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1995

About this map

Needle Rock and the sharp escarpments of Jackson Canyon dominate this portion of Goshen County, where the high plains break into a series of dramatic outcrops. The landscape reflects a legacy of cattle ranching, with established family holdings like the Otto Ranch, Hunter Ranch, and Wilkins Ranch scattered across the drainages. These operations relied on a network of intermittent water sources including Corn Creek, Josh Creek, and the southern Lone Tree Creek.

Evidence of earlier habitation or abandoned settlements appears at the Trelona (Site), providing a specific point of interest for local historians. The map also identifies several named geological landmarks that likely served as essential navigational aids for early travelers, most notably the towering Sugar Bowl Rock and Steamboat Rock. The terrain is further defined by the broad Needle Draw, which cuts through the central township toward the more level ground to the east.