2011 Map of Purgatory Canyon

About this map

Purgatory Canyon and its smaller tributary, Little Purgatory Canyon, carve through the arid high desert of Mohave County along the Arizona-Utah border. This modern topographic study reveals a landscape defined by sharp drainage patterns and stark relief, where the Virgin River flows across the northern reach before the terrain rises into the Lime Hills and the slopes of Mokaac Mountain. Names like Starvation Point and The Dives Black Rock Gulch suggest a challenging environment for early travelers and stockmen, while the presence of Blakes Lambing Grounds provides a concrete link to the regional history of sheep ranching.