Published in 1957 from 1955 mapping, the US Geological Survey’s “Dromedary Peak” captures a dramatic sector of Utah’s Wasatch Range at the intimate 1:24,000 scale. Centered on the rugged heights above Little Cottonwood Canyon, the map records Alta, Snowbird, Dromedary Peak, and the surrounding alpine basins at a moment when the mountains were beginning to shift from mining-era remoteness toward modern recreation. Its title peak rises among tightly packed contours, steep drainages, and high ridgelines, giving the sheet a powerful sense of verticality. For collectors, it is a portrait of a mountain landscape on the cusp of transformation, where roads, trails, lakes, and forest boundaries reveal both wilderness character and the first outlines of a burgeoning ski country.

The USGS was uniquely suited to render this terrain with authority. Founded in the late nineteenth century to classify public lands and examine the nation’s geology, the agency became America’s preeminent maker of scientific topographic maps. By the mid-twentieth century, its quadrangles were indispensable tools for engineers, foresters, miners, planners, mountaineers, and government agencies. In “Dromedary Peak,” that institutional precision is evident in every contour interval, stream course, road classification, and place name. The map is not decorative in the conventional sense, yet its disciplined design has a quiet elegance: a muted palette, carefully lettered names, and finely drawn relief combine to make the Wasatch appear both measurable and majestic.

Alta and Snowbird give the map particular historical resonance. Alta, once a silver-mining settlement, had already begun its reinvention as a ski destination by the time this map was compiled, while Snowbird’s later rise as a major resort would make Little Cottonwood Canyon internationally famous. Here, before the full scale of recreational development, the canyon is shown as a steep, narrow corridor framed by Grizzly Gulch, Cardiff Fork, and imposing mountain walls. Roads and trails thread through the terrain, hinting at access but never diminishing the severity of the landscape. The sheet preserves the geography that made the area legendary: deep snow, abrupt relief, high basins, and an alpine setting close to Salt Lake Valley yet seemingly remote.

Beyond Little Cottonwood Canyon, the map opens into a rich network of Wasatch landmarks. Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton, Mill D South Fork, Twin Lakes, Silver Lake, Lake Mary, Lake Martha, Red Pine Lake, and the Cottonwood Lakes appear amid ridges and cirques shaped by water, ice, and elevation. Big Cottonwood Ridge and Murdock Peak help define the region’s complicated mountain architecture, while streams descend through narrow forks toward lower valleys. The inclusion of Utah National Forest underscores the federal management of these high watersheds, prized for timber, water, wildlife, and recreation. Seen together, the named lakes and drainages form an alpine mosaic, the kind of terrain that rewards both scientific study and imaginative exploration.

Cartographically, the sheet’s appeal lies in the way its classic topographic language makes the Wasatch legible. Dense contour lines bunch together on precipitous slopes, relax around basins and lakes, and bend around gullies with remarkable clarity. The result is a map that suggests three-dimensional form without pictorial embellishment, allowing the eye to climb Dromedary Peak, follow canyon floors, and trace ridgelines across the page. Road classifications and varied trails record the human routes through this demanding landscape, while streams and small rivers reveal the mountain’s hydrological structure. As a mid-century document, “Dromedary Peak” stands at the intersection of science, outdoor recreation, and western land history, preserving a refined image of Utah’s high country before its modern fame fully arrived.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Alta
• Snowbird
• Little Cottonwood Canyon
• Wasatch Range
• Dromedary Peak
• Utah National Forest
• Cottonwood Lakes
• Brighton
• Big Cottonwood Canyon
• Twin Lakes
• Silver Lake
• Mill D South Fork
• Grizzly Gulch
• Cardiff Fork
• Lake Mary
• Lake Martha
• Deer Valley Resort
• Red Pine Lake
• Big Cottonwood Ridge
• Murdock Peak
• Point of the Mountain
• Road classifications
• Trails
• Streams and small rivers

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Alta, Snowbird, and the surrounding Utah mountain region.
• Dated 1955 with a 1957 imprint.
• Produced by the US Geological Survey (USGS), known for detailed topographic mapping and geological surveys of the United States.
• The USGS has provided important scientific data related to natural resources, hazards, ecosystems, and public land use.
• Features Alta and Snowbird, two well-known resort areas with histories tied to skiing and regional recreation.
• Uses a classic topographical design with contour lines to show elevation changes.
• Muted color palette highlights the natural terrain.
• Shows rugged mountainous terrain characteristic of the Wasatch Range, including peaks, valleys, lakes, streams, and small rivers.
• Reflects a mid-20th-century period of increasing recreational development in the region.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.