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1885 Map of San Rafael

Name: 1885 Topographic Map of San Rafael
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1908
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1908

About this map

The Powell Survey conducted the original triangulation and topography for this reconnaissance study, capturing a high-desert landscape defined by its severe geology. The massive Swell of the San Rafael dominates the northern half of the sheet, where the San Rafael Valley meets the winding course of the Green River. To the south, the terrain rises sharply into the Henry Mountains, culminating at Mt Ellen.

Settlement is exceptionally sparse in this era, limited to the outposts of Blake and Tidwell in the northeast corner. The map traces the intricate drainage systems of the Fremont River and its tributaries like Muddy Creek and Bowl Creek, which carve deep paths through the Orange Cliffs and into the dramatic Labyrinth Canyon. The presence of these named waterways and isolated peaks provides essential landmarks for understanding the early navigation and mapping of Emery, Piute, and Garfield counties.