1953 Map of Orange Cliffs

About this map

Canyonlands National Park and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area meet in this landscape of deep drainages and monolithic buttes. The map reveals a transition in land use and protection, showing a proposed boundary for the park extension across the Orange Cliffs and The Maze. Topographical details from the original 1953 survey, with atomic energy cooperation, highlight the remote infrastructure of the era, including a Landing Strip on Flint Flat and a Drill Hole in Gordon Flats. The confluence of the Colorado River and Lake Powell at Cataract Canyon anchors the southeast, while the intricate erosion of The Fins and Standing Rocks defines the eastern desert floor. Named water sources like French Spring and Big Water Spring signify the critical points of survival in this high-desert environment.