2014 Map of Ninemile Knoll

About this map

The Escalante Desert dominates this arid landscape at the boundary of Beaver and Iron counties, where the high desert floor meets the northern edges of the Black Mountains. This 2014 survey reveals a transition from the wide, relatively flat basins of the north to the increasingly complex topography of the south, characterized by features like Black Canyon and the prominent volcanic profile of Ninemile Knoll. Hydrological patterns are typical of the Great Basin, with seasonal or interior drainage points such as The Sink and a series of livestock-supporting waters including Cactus Pond, Mound Pond, and Willow Spring. The human imprint on this desert terrain is defined by a sparse grid of range roads, including the descriptive Pig Farm Rd and Thermo Rd, alongside the winding Horse Valley Wash Rd that follows the natural drainage towards the southern highlands.