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1953 Map of The Needles

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of The Needles
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The confluence of the Colorado River and the Green River serves as the central focal point for this 1953 survey of the remote Utah backcountry. This area, largely defined by the sandstone spires of The Needles, shows the early topographic mapping of what would become Canyonlands National Park. The landscape is characterized by intricate canyon systems like Stillwater Canyon and Cataract Canyon, punctuated by distinctive landmarks such as Druid Arch and Beehive Arch.

Evidence of early human presence and navigation is visible through labels such as Spanish Bottom and the Ranger Station. In the southern reaches, more localized place names like Bobbys Hole, Pappys Pasture, and Beef Basin suggest the area's history of cattle ranching and seasonal grazing. The survey, produced with cooperation from the Atomic Energy Commission, highlights the complex network of Jeep Trails and unnamed washes that provided the only access through the Land of Standing Rocks.