1988 Map of Spotted Wolf Canyon

About this map

The San Rafael River meanders through a labyrinth of high desert terrain in this late-1980s survey, illustrating the complex drainage patterns of the San Rafael Reef. Industrial interest in the area is evidenced by numerous prospects and adits concentrated near Tidwell Draw, signaling a history of mineral exploration in the canyon country. Notable geographic landmarks such as Swazys Leap and the Natural Arch punctuate the landscape, while colorful local nomenclature like Jackass Benches and Moonshine Tanks reflects the region's human history. Modern infrastructure, including a Runaway Truck Ramp and a highway Rest Area, marks the path of travel through Spotted Wolf Canyon, showing how late 20th-century transportation adapted to the dramatic elevation changes of The Squeeze and the broad flats of Shadscale Mesa.