2011 Map of Water Pockets

About this map

The Paria River carves a deep path through northern Arizona, defining the landscape of the Paria Canyon as it winds toward the Colorado. This 2011 survey captures a remote section of Coconino County where water and topography dictate the naming of features, from the natural catchment of the Water Pockets to the Bush Head Tank. The terrain is characterized by the massive Paria Plateau and the high elevation of Cedar Mountain, which overlooks the Sand Hills and Bush Head Valley. The map records landmarks significant to those navigating the high desert, such as the Horse Ridge and the distinctively named Thousand Pockets. Evidence of early travel and geographic significance is found in the naming of Ferry Swale and its adjacent Ferry Swale Canyon, suggesting the historical importance of these routes through the arid canyon country.