1962 Map of Plug Hat Rock

About this map

Dinosaur National Monument occupies the southern reach of this landscape, where the high-elevation terrain is defined by dramatic geological features like Plug Hat Rock and the long expanse of Buckwater Ridge. The 1962 topography shows a remote ranching and grazing environment marked by isolated outposts such as Haslem Cabin, Morgan Cabin, and Fletcher Cabin. These structures, along with several water sources like Blue Mountain Spring No 1 and Basin Springs, illustrate the historical reliance on scattered mountain springs to support life in this arid part of Moffat County. The winding route of Harpers Corner Road provides the primary access through the plateaus, passing near Escalante Overlook. Below the ridges, deep drainage systems like Bull Canyon and Dripping Rock Creek carve through the earth, while scattered drill holes hint at the mineral exploration of the mid-century era.