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2014 Map of Shafer Basin

Name: 2014 Topographic Map of Shafer Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2014
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2014

About this map

The Colorado River carves a deep, serpentine path through this high desert terrain in San Juan County, defining the complex topography of the Shafer Basin. The river acts as a natural boundary for the northern reaches of Canyonlands National Park, where the landscape is marked by extreme vertical relief and iconic landmarks like Dead Horse Point and the towering Pyramid Butte.

Evidence of human access and light infrastructure is visible via Hatch Point Rd and the remote Caveman Ranch Airport, which serves this isolated plateau. For geologists and researchers, the map provides a clear look at the structural drainage of the region through Musselman Canyon and Little Bridge Canyon. The presence of Dripping Spring and the passage through Hurrah Pass illustrate the critical points of navigation and water resources in an otherwise arid environment.