2021 Map of Astor Pass

About this map

Sand Pass and the surrounding high desert of Washoe County are documented here in this 2021 survey, where the Sand Range meets the northern reaches of Honey Lake Valley. The landscape is defined by its arid basins and uplifted ranges, including the Terraced Hills and the appropriately named Never Sweat Hills. Transportation through this remote terrain relies on a network of dirt routes such as Surprise Valley Rd, High Rock Rd, and Fish Springs Rd, which connect the passes to the broader valley floors. Critical water sources for local wildlife or travelers are mapped at Mocho Spring Number Two and the pair of Upper Adobe Spring and Lower Adobe Spring in the Juniper Basin. These springs and seasonal drainages, like Dry Valley, illustrate the sparse but vital hydrography essential to navigating the Virginia Mountains foothills.