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2004 Map of New River Mesa

Name: 2004 Topographic Map of New River Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2006
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2006

About this map

Tonto National Forest land dominates this high-desert landscape north of Cave Creek, where the mining history of Maricopa County remains visible through sites like the Phoenix Mine and Maricopa Mine. The terrain is defined by the massive plateau of New River Mesa and the prominent heights of Elephant Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain. Water is a scarce and vital resource in this environment, represented by a network of seasonal catchments such as Lopez Tank, Reed Tank, and New River Mesa Tank.

Deep canyons like Grapevine Canyon and Chalk Canyon cut through the volcanic tablelands, while the Spur Cross Ranch marks a notable point of human activity and conservation at the southern edge of the survey. The map records numerous Prospects and the Greys Gulch Mine, indicating the intense mineral exploration that characterized the region's development. Trails such as the Skunk Cave Trail and Cottonwood Trail provide a sense of the early routes through the Skunk Basin and across the rugged mesa tops.