2012 Map of Arroyo Tapiado

About this map

The Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849 cuts through this arid landscape, following the corridor of Vallecito Creek and the Old Overland Stage Route. This corridor was once a vital artery for nineteenth-century travelers and gold seekers, and it remains a central geographical feature of the region. The map highlights a series of significant washes and canyons, including Sandstone Canyon and the winding Fish Creek Wash, which drain the tablelands of Middle Mesa, West Mesa, and East Mesa. In the southwest corner, the small settlement of Canebrake Canyon provides a modern point of reference near Mesquite Oasis, while the topography to the north reveals the stark relief of the View of Badland. This modern survey documents the continued use of historical transit paths amidst the shifting sands of numerous washes like Mollusk Wash and Arroyo Tapiado.