2011 Map of San Juan Spring

About this map

Gu Chuapo sits at the base of the Quinlan Mountains in this arid Pima County landscape, where water and topography define the pattern of settlement and movement. The map illustrates a complex drainage network vital to this desert environment, dominated by the long courses of Pavo Kug Wash, Sells Wash, and the southern Ali Molina Wash. These ephemeral watercourses converge and diverge across the terrain, carving out significant landforms such as San Juan Canyon and Ali Molina Canyon. A rare point of permanent water is identified at San Juan Spring along the banks of the San Juan Wash. This 2011 survey captures the area as it is traversed by Route 86, showing how modern infrastructure follows the natural corridors established by the ancient wash systems and the eastern slopes of the Quinlan range.