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2018 Map of Spencer Canyon

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Spencer Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

The Colorado River carves a deep path through the Lower Granite Gorge in this Mohave County canyonland, where the borders of Grand Canyon National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area meet. The river's descent is marked by formidable whitewater, including the Surprise Rapids, Lost Creek Rapids, and Lava Cliff Rapids. This section of the river is a place of profound vertical relief, transitioning from the high Sanup Plateau down to the narrow corridors of Spencer Canyon and Meriwhitica Canyon.

Ephemeral and perennial water sources define the human and natural history of this arid landscape. Important points of interest include Indian Gardens and Meriwhitica Springs, which provided essential water in a region dominated by high mesas and steep walls like Lava Cliff. Further south, Spencer Springs and White Spring indicate the scattered locations of reliable water that historically dictated movement through these canyons.