2013 Map of Red Canyon

About this map

Dolores River and San Miguel River dominate this West Slope landscape, carving deep relief through the high mesas of western Colorado. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation shifts, where isolated landforms like Blue Mesa, Lone Tree Mesa, and Atkinson Mesa stand above a network of canyons and drainage systems. This 2013 survey illustrates how transportation follows the contours of the water, with Co-141 snaking along the riverbed through Red Canyon and past the distinctive Beehive Canyon. Away from the river corridors, the map documents a series of rural routes such as s12 RD and q12 RD that provide access to the expansive Carpenter Flats and the high plateaus. The topography reveals the natural barriers that have long dictated movement and land use in this part of the Colorado Plateau.