2021 Map of The Big Knoll

About this map

The Vermilion Cliffs dominate the southeastern portion of this landscape, creating a dramatic topographical transition in the Coconino County high desert. This 2021 survey of the Paria Plateau region illustrates a remote environment defined by distinct geologic formations rather than human settlement. Notable landmarks including The Big Knoll, Red Knolls, and Mid Knoll rise above the surrounding terrain, providing vertical relief in an area characterized by wide basins like Pinnacle Valley and Kid Pen Valley. Water is a scarce and vital resource in this arid climate, with Cottonwood Spring serving as a key hydrologic feature near the cliffs. The presence of Soap Creek Pasture suggests the continued use of this land for rangeland and grazing, a practice long established on the plateau despite its distance from major townships.