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1996 Map of Red House Spring

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Red House Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2002
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2002

About this map

Red House Spring and the surrounding desert corridor of San Juan County are documented here as they appeared in the late 20th century. This arid landscape is defined by its dramatic verticality, where the massive Red House Cliffs and Clay Hills drop into a complex network of erosional drainages. The map reveals the intricate path of Grand Gulch, including a distinctively tight passage known as The Narrows, which serves as a primary drainage route toward the south.

Isolated water sources like Collins Spring were critical landmarks for the land management and cattle operations that moved through these canyons, as seen in the naming of Steer Pasture Canyon and Steer Gulch. The topography is a labyrinth of mesas and deep-cut washes, including the prominent Polly Mesa and Water Canyon, providing a detailed look at the geography of the Colorado Plateau before the turn of the millennium.