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1962 Map of Powell Plateau

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Powell Plateau
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Colorado River carves through the heart of the Grand Canyon in this early 1960s study, revealing the immense vertical complexity of the Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest. The landscape is defined by its massive plateaus and isolated buttes given evocative names such as Holy Grail Temple, Masonic Temple, and King Arthur Castle. These landforms rise above deep drainages like Tapeats Creek and Shinumo Creek, where the river's power is marked by named river miles and hazards including Specter Rapids and Hundred and Thirtyfive Mile Rapids.

High-altitude water sources like Powell Spring, Ikes Spring, and Swamp Lake provide a counterpoint to the arid depths. The map records several named paths, most notably the Shinumo Trail, which offers a route through this demanding terrain. From the high rim at Monument Point to the floor of the Granite Gorge, the survey documents the intricate network of canyons, points, and springs that have long challenged and fascinated explorers of the Arizona interior.