1896 Map of Price River

About this map

The Denver and Rio Grande Western RR dictates the corridor of settlement across this Utah landscape, connecting the coal-rich canyons of the north to the expansive Castle Valley. Surveyed by the Powell Survey, the map documents the critical water sources and mountain passes that defined early territorial logistics, from the narrow gateway at Castle Gate to the isolated outposts of Sunny Side and Grassy Trail. To the east, the Green River carves through the formidable Desolation Canyon and Gray Canyon, forming a stark natural boundary against the West Tavaputs Plateau. Local genealogists can trace the early footprints of Castle Dale and Price during a decade of rapid expansion, while landmarks like Gunnison Butte and the Bad Land Cliffs anchor the dramatic topography of the Brown Plateau and Beckwith Plateau.