1965 Map of Sontag Mesa

About this map

The San Carlos Indian Reservation encompasses this high desert landscape, dominated by the deep canyon of the San Carlos River and its confluence with the Blue River. Mapped in the mid-1960s, the terrain reveals a reliance on essential water sources for cattle or survival, marked by features such as Antelope Tank, Big Brushy Tank, and Little Brushy Tank. The boundary between Gila County and Graham County cuts across the river valley, while the Base Line serves as a primary east-west surveying reference. Settlement is absent here, replaced by a network of a Trail and Jeep Trail winding across Sontag Mesa and down toward Antelope Flats, indicating a rugged, seasonal-use landscape defined by its hydrology and geography rather than permanent towns.