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1996 Map of Spanish Bottom

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Spanish Bottom
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2002
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2002

About this map

Canyonlands National Park centers on the dramatic confluence of the Green River and the Colorado River, a point that defines the transition into the formidable Cataract Canyon. The landscape is a maze of vertical relief, featuring distinctive monoliths and geological curiosities like The Plug, Lizard Rock, and the intricate spire formations of The Doll House. The topography reveals the sheer complexity of the The Maze and the Land of Standing Rocks, where ancient drainage patterns have carved deep into Petes Mesa.

Tracing the river corridors from Stillwater Canyon down to the treacherous waters of the cataracts, the map highlights the unique geography of Spanish Bottom. To the southeast, the parallel fault-controlled valleys of The Grabens, including Cyclone Canyon, illustrate the structural shifting of the earth's crust near the river's edge. This 1996 provisional survey records the primitive 4wd tracks that provide the only terrestrial access to this remote interior, connecting landmarks like Chimney Rock and Ernies Country.