1985 Map of Steamboat Mesa

About this map

The Dolores River cuts through the southwestern corner of this high-desert plateau, marked by notable water features like Stateline Rapids and smaller Rapids along the canyon floor. This 1980s landscape is defined by the massive uplift of Steamboat Mesa and Piñon Mesa, which dominate the central and northern terrain. A network of drainage systems, including Granite Creek and Ryan Creek, has carved deep into the earth, creating isolated features such as Renegade Point and Buckhorn Draw. The map documents the border between Grand Co, Utah, and Mesa Co, Colorado, showing a region where the land's orientation is dictated by its verticality. From the high elevations of the Haystack Peaks to the sheltered Lost Horse Basin, the sheet illustrates a demanding environment primarily accessed via 4WD tracks and remote mountain trails.