1937 Map of Ship Rock

About this map

Ship Rock towers as the dominant landmark in this 1930s survey of the high desert within the Navajo Indian Reservation. The terrain is defined by dramatic volcanic and sedimentary formations, including the distinct Mitten Rock and the prominent Ship Rock Ridge. A network of intermittent drainage systems like Ship Rock Wash and Red Wash suggests a landscape shaped by seasonal water flow, while rare water sources such as Mud Spring and Sheep Spring denote critical points in an otherwise arid environment. The presence of the Red Rock Highway and secondary routes indicate the early infrastructure connecting these remote landmarks. To the south, the massive Beautiful Mountains and the geological anomaly of Tocito Dome provide a complex backdrop for researchers studying the transition from the Chuska Mountains to the San Juan Basin floor.