1953 Map of The Spur

About this map

Tidwell Ranch and the remote outposts of The Mailbox and Red Nubs stand as isolated signs of human activity in this mid-century survey of the canyon country where Wayne, Emery, and San Juan Counties meet. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Green River as it carves through Stillwater Canyon, creating dramatic river bends such as Bonita Bend and low-lying areas like Anderson Bottom and Potato Bottom. Dramatic geological formations dominate the topography, including the towering Orange Cliffs, the distinctive Buttes of the Cross, and Cleopatras Chair. Navigation through this complex system of breaks and plateaus is mapped via a network of jeep trails and routes crossing the Millard Canyon Benches, revealing how early explorers and ranchers accessed the Head of the Spur and the surrounding desert wilderness.