2012 Map of Avawatz Pass

About this map

Avawatz Pass sits as a critical geographic crossing in the arid landscape of San Bernardino County, where water sources determine the patterns of movement and survival. This survey highlights the sparse but vital network of springs that sustained travel through the high desert, including Cave Spring and Denning Spring. The terrain is defined by complex drainage patterns that converge at these water points, suggesting the historical routes used by miners and early travelers navigating this portion of the Mojave. The presence of Arrastre Spring points to the region's mining heritage, as an arrastre was a primitive mill used for grinding ore, indicating labor and industry once centered around this specific water source near Cottonwood Spring.