1987 Map of Red House Spring

About this map

Red House Cliffs and the adjacent Clay Hills define the dramatic verticality of this San Juan County landscape during the late 1980s. The region is characterized by deep drainage systems, most notably Grand Gulch and Collins Canyon, which converge in a complex network of rimrock and seasonal water sources. Natural landmarks like The Narrows indicate where these canyons constrict, while vital water points such as Red House Spring and Collins Spring provided essential resources in an otherwise arid environment. This provisional survey captures the intersection of high plateaus like Polly Mesa with the lower, winding drainages of Steer Gulch and Water Canyon, illustrating the topographical challenges faced by early travelers and surveyors navigating the southeastern Utah desert.