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1970 Map of Preacher Canyon

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Preacher Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Diamond Ridge Gas Field and its associated pipeline infrastructure mark the industrial footprint on this high-desert landscape in northeastern Grand County. At the time of this 1970 field check, the area was defined by its complex drainage network, where the high elevation of Diamond Ridge gives way to deep incisions like Preacher Canyon and Hay Canyon. A series of drill holes and gas wells are scattered across the plateau, reached by a network of jeep trails and a pack trail that emphasize the remoteness of the terrain.

Prominent landforms like Rock Spring Mesa and Cherry Mesa dominate the northwest, while names like Jumping Off Point and Westwater Point signal the sharp drop-offs into the canyons below. Water sources are scarce but significant, noted by landmarks such as Rock Spring, Red Spring, and the winding Westwater Creek. This document captures the intersection of resource extraction and traditional ranching or surveying paths, seen in various corals and trail networks throughout the high country.