2021 Map of Smiley Draw

About this map

Wild Horse Butte and the surrounding Wild Horse Basin dominate this high-desert landscape in Carbon County. The terrain is defined by a series of dramatic drainages and mesas, notably the Deep Creek Rim and the volcanic-named Little Wild Horse Buttes. Water sources are critical but sparse in this environment, represented here by Big Spring and Smiley Spring, which feed into local systems like Cherokee Cr. These springs likely served as vital hubs for early ranching and transit through the high basins. Remote access is provided by unpaved tracks such as Wild Cow Rd and Wild Horse Rd, tracing the natural contours of Smiley Draw and White Rock Draw. The map captures a section of the American West where topography and hydrology strictly dictate the patterns of human movement and land use.