1922 Map of Upper Last Chance

About this map

Smoky Mtn. dominates the southern portion of this reconnaissance survey, where topographic contours reveal the sharp relief of the southern Utah plateaus. Surveyed by Raymond C. Moore and assistants in the early 1920s, the map documents a hydrological network centered on the serpentine course of Last Chance Ck and its primary tributary, Little Last Chance Ck. The drainage patterns suggest a landscape defined by deep erosion, with Tommy Ck and Smith Ck carving into the western benches. This work represents early scientific mapping by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Escalante region, capturing the physical geography before modern water management or extensive infrastructure altered these high-desert watercourses.