2017 Map of Whirlwind Draw

About this map

San Juan River meanders through the heart of this high desert landscape, cutting deep through the geological layers of the San Juan Valley. This 2017 study illustrates the dramatic topography of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, where sharp elevation changes define features like the Red House Cliffs and the elevated Red Rock Plateau. The map highlights a critical river-crossing corridor marked by Whirlwind Crossing Road, which descends through Whirlwind Draw toward the water. Beyond the primary river channel, smaller hydrological features like Nancys Pool and drainage systems including Steer Gulch and Oljeto Wash show how water has shaped the sandstone terrain. The land is strictly partitioned by the Public Land Survey System into townships and ranges, underscoring the formal administrative boundaries overlaying this remote canyon country.