1954 Map of White Canyon 1 NW

About this map

The Colorado River carves a deep, winding path through the canyonlands of southern Utah in this 1952 survey, published as a preliminary edition in 1954. The landscape is defined by massive topographic features like the elevated Dry Mesa and the prominent Middle Point peninsula. This map captures the region just before the completion of Glen Canyon Dam downstream would fundamentally alter the river's profile and character. Rare water sources in this arid environment are carefully noted, including Cove Spring and the curiously named Freddies Cistern. Along the western edge, the border between Garfield Co and San Juan Co follows the jagged rim of the canyon, illustrating how the natural geology of Black Ledge and Bowdie dictated political boundaries and land management in the mid-20th century.