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1997 Map of The Loop

Name: 1997 Topographic Map of The Loop
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2002
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2002

About this map

Colorado River meanders through the high desert of San Juan County, Utah, carving the dramatic oxbow known as The Loop. This late 20th-century survey documents the intricate geological forms within Canyonlands National Park, including the distinctive parallel ridges of The Needles and the sunken fault blocks of The Grabens. The landscape is a labyrinth of named canyons like Elephant Canyon and Big Spring Canyon, which dictate the few primitive routes through the region.

Recreational and administrative infrastructure is concentrated in the southeast, near the Ranger Station and Squaw Flat Campground. Local landmarks such as the Wooden Shoe rock formation and the difficult passage at Elephant Hill provide essential orientation in a terrain dominated by seasonal water sources like Cave Spring and Squaw Spring. The map serves as a detailed record of the park's interior before the 21st century, illustrating how natural drainages like Salt Creek define the movement of travelers and water alike.