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1967 Map of Spencer Canyon

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Spencer Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Colorado River carves a deep path through the Granite Gorge in this 1960s topographic study of Mohave County. This landscape is defined by the intersection of the Hualapai Indian Reservation and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, where the river’s descent is marked by hazardous stretches like Lost Creek Rapids, Surprise Rapids, and Lava Cliff Rapids. The terrain transitions sharply from the elevated Sanup Plateau into deep drainages such as Surprise Canyon and Spencer Canyon.

Cultural and water-resource features are concentrated in the arid lowlands and canyon bottoms. Researchers will find the Indian Gardens settlement and nearby ruins located along a Pack Trail that connects to Meriwhitica Springs. These remote sites, along with Spencer Springs and Meriwhitica Tank, represent critical water points in a territory where movement was dictated by the few established routes like the Jeep Trail and the vista at Canyon Viewpoint.