Rare Old Map of Sundance, Utah by USGS, 1948: Aspen Grove, Uinta National Forest & Bear Creek Reservoir
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1960 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in the EU
Restored from the original 1960 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
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Published in 1960 using survey data from 1948, the US Geological Survey’s “Aspen Grove” captures a dramatic section of Utah’s Wasatch country...
Continue readingPublished in 1960 using survey data from 1948, the US Geological Survey’s “Aspen Grove” captures a dramatic section of Utah’s Wasatch country at a moment before modern recreation fully transformed the landscape. Centered on the Sundance area and the forested slopes of the Uinta National Forest, the map presents a meticulous 1:24,000 topographic portrait of canyons, ridges, creeks, roads, and trails. Its original title evokes both place and atmosphere: a high mountain setting where groves, drainages, and steep contours define the experience of the terrain. The map’s fine contouring reveals abrupt elevation changes, making it not merely a geographic record but a visual study of the rugged landforms that shaped travel, settlement, and recreation in this part of Utah.
The cartographic language of the USGS is especially compelling here: contour lines gather tightly across steep slopes, then relax into gentler intervals where valleys and benches open beneath the mountains. Vibrant green shading marks forested terrain, creating a clear contrast with lighter beige areas of exposed or less wooded land. This color logic gives the map an immediate sense of elevation, cover, and accessibility, allowing the viewer to read the land almost intuitively. Roads and unnamed trails thread through the mountainous setting, suggesting routes into an area that was still deeply tied to wilderness. Bear Creek Reservoir, Deer Creek references, and the surrounding watercourses offer a hydrological framework for the region, anchoring the steep topography in a network of mountain drainage.
Sundance, Utah, is the principal human landmark on the map, though in this 1948-surveyed landscape it appears within a much broader natural stage. Today the name is strongly associated with skiing, alpine recreation, and year-round outdoor culture, but this map preserves the area at a quieter point in its evolution. The steep ridges and forested canyons that later made the region attractive to winter sports enthusiasts are already powerfully evident in the contours. Long before resort infrastructure became the dominant identity of the place, the terrain itself was the draw: deep snow, high slopes, cool forests, and mountain access close to the population centers of Utah Valley. The map quietly documents that transition from remote upland to celebrated recreation destination.
The presence of Uinta National Forest gives the map an added historical and environmental resonance. Federal forest lands in Utah were managed not only for timber and watershed protection, but also for grazing, access, and eventually public recreation. In the Aspen Grove quadrangle, these uses converge in a landscape of steep hillsides, creek corridors, and high-elevation vegetation. The map’s unnamed roads and trails hint at practical movement through the terrain—routes used by foresters, ranchers, hunters, hikers, and early visitors seeking mountain air. Its careful depiction of vegetation underscores the importance of forest cover in shaping both the appearance and utility of the region. The green-toned slopes are more than decorative; they identify a living mountain environment integral to Utah’s natural heritage.
As a historical topographic document, “Aspen Grove” offers a fascinating view of a landscape poised between wilderness and recreation. The USGS style is precise and restrained, yet the subject matter is richly expressive: ridgelines rising in close succession, reservoirs and creeks occupying folds of the land, and trails vanishing into wooded high country. The map invites study by anyone interested in Sundance’s development, Wasatch Mountain geography, or the broader story of western outdoor tourism. It records the physical foundations of a destination later known for skiing, hiking, and scenic retreat, while preserving the earlier character of the place in fine cartographic detail. Elegant, technical, and evocative, it is a portrait of Utah’s mountain terrain before leisure culture fully claimed it.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Sundance, Utah
- Uinta National Forest
- Bear Creek Reservoir
- Various unnamed trails and roads
- Deer Creek / Deer Creek Reservoir
- Mountains and ridges throughout the area
Historical context & cartographic details
- Map name: Aspen Grove
- Published by the US Geological Survey (USGS)
- Created using survey data from 1948 and published in 1960
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map of the surrounding Utah mountain landscape
- Features detailed contour lines showing elevation, terrain variation, and steep inclines
- Emphasizes a mountainous landscape with significant elevation changes and vegetation cover
- Reflects the region’s shift over time from a largely wild area to a destination for outdoor recreation and winter sports
- Uses vibrant green hues to highlight forested areas, contrasted with lighter beige tones for exposed land
- Cartographic design clearly represents natural features, including forest cover, ridges, slopes, and drainage areas
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.
Published in 1960 using survey data from 1948, the US Geological Survey’s “Aspen Grove” captures a dramatic section of Utah’s Wasatch country at a moment before modern recreation fully transformed the landscape. Centered on the Sundance area and the forested slopes of the Uinta National Forest, the map presents a meticulous 1:24,000 topographic portrait of canyons, ridges, creeks, roads, and trails. Its original title evokes both place and atmosphere: a high mountain setting where groves, drainages, and steep contours define the experience of the terrain. The map’s fine contouring reveals abrupt elevation changes, making it not merely a geographic record but a visual study of the rugged landforms that shaped travel, settlement, and recreation in this part of Utah.
The cartographic language of the USGS is especially compelling here: contour lines gather tightly across steep slopes, then relax into gentler intervals where valleys and benches open beneath the mountains. Vibrant green shading marks forested terrain, creating a clear contrast with lighter beige areas of exposed or less wooded land. This color logic gives the map an immediate sense of elevation, cover, and accessibility, allowing the viewer to read the land almost intuitively. Roads and unnamed trails thread through the mountainous setting, suggesting routes into an area that was still deeply tied to wilderness. Bear Creek Reservoir, Deer Creek references, and the surrounding watercourses offer a hydrological framework for the region, anchoring the steep topography in a network of mountain drainage.
Sundance, Utah, is the principal human landmark on the map, though in this 1948-surveyed landscape it appears within a much broader natural stage. Today the name is strongly associated with skiing, alpine recreation, and year-round outdoor culture, but this map preserves the area at a quieter point in its evolution. The steep ridges and forested canyons that later made the region attractive to winter sports enthusiasts are already powerfully evident in the contours. Long before resort infrastructure became the dominant identity of the place, the terrain itself was the draw: deep snow, high slopes, cool forests, and mountain access close to the population centers of Utah Valley. The map quietly documents that transition from remote upland to celebrated recreation destination.
The presence of Uinta National Forest gives the map an added historical and environmental resonance. Federal forest lands in Utah were managed not only for timber and watershed protection, but also for grazing, access, and eventually public recreation. In the Aspen Grove quadrangle, these uses converge in a landscape of steep hillsides, creek corridors, and high-elevation vegetation. The map’s unnamed roads and trails hint at practical movement through the terrain—routes used by foresters, ranchers, hunters, hikers, and early visitors seeking mountain air. Its careful depiction of vegetation underscores the importance of forest cover in shaping both the appearance and utility of the region. The green-toned slopes are more than decorative; they identify a living mountain environment integral to Utah’s natural heritage.
As a historical topographic document, “Aspen Grove” offers a fascinating view of a landscape poised between wilderness and recreation. The USGS style is precise and restrained, yet the subject matter is richly expressive: ridgelines rising in close succession, reservoirs and creeks occupying folds of the land, and trails vanishing into wooded high country. The map invites study by anyone interested in Sundance’s development, Wasatch Mountain geography, or the broader story of western outdoor tourism. It records the physical foundations of a destination later known for skiing, hiking, and scenic retreat, while preserving the earlier character of the place in fine cartographic detail. Elegant, technical, and evocative, it is a portrait of Utah’s mountain terrain before leisure culture fully claimed it.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Sundance, Utah
- Uinta National Forest
- Bear Creek Reservoir
- Various unnamed trails and roads
- Deer Creek / Deer Creek Reservoir
- Mountains and ridges throughout the area
Historical context & cartographic details
- Map name: Aspen Grove
- Published by the US Geological Survey (USGS)
- Created using survey data from 1948 and published in 1960
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map of the surrounding Utah mountain landscape
- Features detailed contour lines showing elevation, terrain variation, and steep inclines
- Emphasizes a mountainous landscape with significant elevation changes and vegetation cover
- Reflects the region’s shift over time from a largely wild area to a destination for outdoor recreation and winter sports
- Uses vibrant green hues to highlight forested areas, contrasted with lighter beige tones for exposed land
- Cartographic design clearly represents natural features, including forest cover, ridges, slopes, and drainage areas
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.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
We work with interior designers, hospitality businesses, property professionals, offices and corporate buyers on individual pieces and larger coordinated projects.
This map can be adapted for a particular wall, room or project, and our workshop can help coordinate the dimensions, material and framing before production.
- Exact, oversized and made-to-measure dimensions
- Custom framing, mounting and alternative materials
- Coordinated pieces for several rooms or locations
- Map personalisation, to mark important locations or add extra details
- Map and framing guidance from our workshop
- Local production for projects around the world
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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