2018 Map of Bates Well

About this map

Bates Well sits at a critical junction in this desert landscape, where the Bates Well Road navigates between prominent desert ranges. This 2018 survey illustrates the protected boundary between the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The terrain is defined by the high ridges of the Growler Mountains and the Bates Mountains, separated by the strategically located Growler Pass and Growler Canyon. To the north, the John the Baptist Mountains and Scarface Mtn rise above the drainage basins. Water movement is etched into the land through the branching paths of the Growler Wash, Cuerda de Lena, and Cherioni Wash, which represent the rare ephemeral hydrology of the Sonoran Desert. The map preserves the sparse human infrastructure and naming conventions used by the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies in this conservation area.