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1997 Map of Arroyo Tapiado

Name: 1997 Topographic Map of Arroyo Tapiado
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2003
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2003

About this map

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park preserves a complex landscape of badlands and mesas in this 1997 study, revealing the ancient desert travel routes that once crossed San Diego County. The Old Overland Stage Route cuts through the western portion of the map, passing near reliable water sources like Palm Spring and Mesquite Oasis. These sites provided critical respite for travelers navigating the arid corridor between the Tierra Blanca Mountains and the elevated plateaus of West Carrizo Mesa and Middle Mesa.

The terrain is defined by deep incisions like Arroyo Tapiado and the evocatively named Arroyo Seco del Diablo, which drain toward the Carrizo Valley. Notable landmarks such as the Well of the Eight Echoes and various benchmarks like BM 881 highlight the historical surveying and water-finding efforts in this remote desert environment. The map captures the meeting of high mesas and shifting washes, including Fish Creek Wash and Oyster Shell Wash, illustrating the geologic character of the Colorado Desert.