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1953 Map of Red Plateau SE

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Red Plateau SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The San Rafael River carves a deep path through this 1953 topographic study of the San Rafael Swell in central Utah. The landscape is defined by its dramatic elevation changes and named plateaus, including Prickly Pear Flat, Big Flat, and Jackass Flat. This preliminary edition highlights the intricate drainage systems that feed into the river, such as Cottonwood Canyon and Spring Canyon, along with various washes and draws like Back Wash and Oil Well Draw.

Local resource management is evidenced by the presence of a Reservoir and the curiously named Moonshine Water Hole. Historical movement through this high desert terrain is marked by traditional names like Hole-in-the-Rock and the vast Sinbad region. Remote but navigated, the map notes the distance to the Castle Dale - Woodside Road, reflecting the era's primary access route into this complex geological feature.