2010 Map of Sandy Creek Benches

About this map

Sandy Ranch sits at the northern end of this corridor, where the County Rd meets the Capitol Reef National Park Rd. The landscape is dominated by the dramatic uplift of the Water Pocket Fold, a massive geological wrinkle that shapes the drainage patterns of Sandy Creek and its many tributaries. The terrain transitions from the high, flat expanses of Wildcat Mesa and Tarantula Mesa down to the broken geography of the Sandy Creek Benches. This region highlights the intersection of agricultural land use and federal preservation, notably at the Cedar Mesa Campground near the southern boundary. Distinctive natural landmarks like the Elbow of the Sandy and The Narrows demonstrate how water has carved deep, specific paths through the sandstone layers over millennia.