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1954 Map of Paria Plateau

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Paria Plateau
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Paria Plateau dominates this high desert landscape, bounded to the south by the towering Vermilion Cliffs and to the east by the White Cliffs. In the mid-1950s, this area of Coconino County remained a sparsely populated rangeland, where a network of Jeep Trails connected isolated outposts like Jarvis Ranch and Joes Ranch. The presence of Pine Tree Pockets Well and various water tanks highlights the essential infrastructure required for cattle ranching in this arid environment.

Water and erosion define the geography, from the Paria River and Paria Canyon in the northeast corner to the geologically distinctive Mexican Sink and Big Sink. The map details a transition from the level expanse of Poverty Flat to the dramatic descent at the Utah State Line. Local landmarks such as One Toe Ridge, Red Butte, and Sand Hill provide crucial orientation points for those navigating the valley systems like Corral Valley and Round Valley.