1966 Map of Pretty Rock

About this map

Pretty Rock anchors this high-desert landscape in San Juan County, captured during a mid-1960s USGS survey. The terrain is defined by a network of seasonal watercourses and broad geological features, including the sprawling Lip Flats and the drainage of Coal Creek. This corner of the Four Corners region reveals a sparse settlement pattern where landforms dictate movement. To the south, Tsaya Canyon and the Black Lake basin provide significant topographical relief against the surrounding plateaus. The presence of major ephemeral washes like De-na-zin Wash and Ah-shi-sle-pah Wash suggests the hydrological patterns typical of this arid environment, providing essential data for those studying the physical history of New Mexico’s badlands and their natural boundaries.