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1997 Map of Rainbow Bridge

Name: 1997 Topographic Map of Rainbow Bridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2002
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2002

About this map

Rainbow Bridge National Monument and the massive natural arch of Rainbow Bridge stand at the heart of this landscape, where the high desert meets the rising waters of Lake Powell. The map illustrates a complex network of deep drainages including Forbidding Canyon and Oak Canyon feeding into the Colorado River system within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Much of the southern and eastern portions of the sheet are defined by the high elevations of Navajo Mountain and the expansive territory of the Navajo Indian Reservation.

Detailed topographical contours reveal the geological isolation of landmarks like Dougi Butte and the narrow passage of Redbud Pass. To the east, the map traces the intricate paths of Nasja Creek and the tucked-away Surprise Valley, which contains the smaller Owl Bridge. The intersection of the San Juan and Kane county lines at the river highlights the jurisdictional complexity of this remote section of the Utah-Arizona borderlands.