2014 Map of Smithsonian Butte

About this map

Smithsonian Butte and the towering Vermilion Cliffs anchor this landscape along the border of Utah and Arizona. The map traces the transition from the high elevations of Canaan Mtn down through Moccasin Terrace to the agricultural reaches of the Big Plain. This 2014 survey documents the modern settlement patterns of Rockville and Hildale, linked by Ut-59 as it traverses the desert floor. Water remains the primary shaper of the terrain here, evident in the complex drainage systems of Grafton Wash and Canaan Wash. Smaller landmarks like Canaan Ranch and the community at Apple Valley show how human activity has established itself amidst the high mesas and deep washes. The map also records numerous natural water sources critical to this arid environment, including Saumill Spring and Canaan Springs.