2017 Map of Scorpion Gulch

About this map

The Escalante River carves a complex, winding path through this corner of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, defining the boundary between the high plateaus and the deep drainage systems of Southern Utah. This 2017 survey captures a landscape of extreme relief, where the river's tight meanders are flanked by dramatic geological formations like Scorpion Gulch and the broad, flat expanses of Baker Bench and East Baker Bench. The map illustrates the transition from high-desert benches down into the intricate gorge systems of Middle Moody Canyon and East Moody Canyon. These drainages represent the raw erosional forces that have shaped the Colorado Plateau. The lack of significant road infrastructure or permanent settlements underscores the wilderness character of this region, preserved for its unique topography and geologic record.