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1953 Map of The Needles

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of The Needles
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Maze and the winding course of the Green River define this 1953 survey, documenting the complex topography before this section of the Colorado Plateau became a national park. The map centers on the confluence where the Green meets the Colorado River, leading into the turbulent waters of Cataract Canyon. This era of documentation shows the landscape as it was known to ranchers and early explorers, with family-named landmarks like Pappys Pasture and Bobbys Hole appearing alongside geological icons such as Candlestick Spire and Standing Rock.

South of the confluence, Ernies Country and Beef Basin sit adjacent to the intricate spire formations of The Needles. The map records specific points of human transit and utility in this arid environment, from the Squaw Spr and Cave Spring settlements to the cattle grazing grounds at Chesler Park. The transition from the high desert of North Flat to the deep incisions of Stillwater Canyon highlights the isolation of this region in the mid-20th century.