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1953 Map of Red Plateau SW

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Red Plateau SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

San Rafael River carves a deep, sinuous path through this 1953 survey of Emery County, Utah. The landscape is dominated by the dramatic uplift of the San Rafael Swell, featuring prominent natural landmarks like Bottleneck Peak, Assembly Hall, and the towering Window Blind Peak. This preliminary edition map details a complex network of canyons and plateaus, including The Wedge and Prickly Pear Flat, illustrating the natural barriers that shaped movement through the region before modern infrastructure was fully established.

Evidence of mid-century industrial exploration is recorded near the eastern edge with several Oil Well Test Holes (Aband). Water resources, critical in this arid environment, are sparsely marked by features such as Buckhorn Wash, Cane Wash, and an occasional Res or Well. The map provides a look at the geological surveying efforts during the early 1950s, documenting a time when the area was still being mapped at more detailed scales.