2021 Map of Bates Well

About this map

Bates Well Road serves as the primary artery through this arid Pima County landscape, connecting the vast protected lands of the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The terrain is defined by dramatic desert ranges, including the Bates Mountains, the Growler Mountains, and the John the Baptist Mountains. These peaks rise sharply above Growler Valley and the Valley of the Ajo, intersected by seasonal drainages like Growler Wash and Cherioni Wash. A significant topographical break occurs at Growler Pass, where the road and wash pass through the northern end of Growler Canyon. This 2021 survey illustrates the modern boundaries and land management of a region characterized by its isolated mountain masses, such as Scarface Mtn and Lime Hill, which historically dictated travel routes and water access in this segment of the Sonoran Desert.