1959 Map of Arroyo Tapiado

About this map

Anza - Borrego Desert State Park encompasses this arid landscape, where the Old Overland Stage Route cuts a historical path across the desert floor. This 1959 survey records the topography before modern recreational development, highlighting the critical importance of water in this environment with labels for Palm Spring, Mesquite Oasis, and the Well of the Eight Echoes. The map illustrates a complex network of seasonal washes and canyons, including the Arroyo Tapiado and Arroyo Seco del Diablo, which drain the elevated plateaus of West Carrizo Mesa and Middle Mesa. To the southwest, the Tierra Blanca Mountains rise above Carrizo Valley, where the Vallecito Sweeney Pass Road provides one of the few established vehicular routes through the terrain. The presence of benchmarked locations like VABM Valle 872 and several seeps indicates the thoroughness of the fieldwork in documenting this remote section of San Diego County.