2018 Map of Big Cottonwood Canyon

About this map

Tuscarora Mountains anchor this high-elevation landscape in Elko County, where steep drainages and flat tablelands define the northeastern Nevada terrain. The area is dominated by the dramatic descent of Big Cottonwood Canyon as it carves through the mountains toward Swimmers Flat in the northeast corner of the quadrangle. This 2018 survey documents the remote watershed of the upper Dry Cr, which flows beneath the prominent peak of Dry Creek Mtn in the southern portion of the sheet. The map reveals a land primarily shaped by its hydrology and relief, with Cottonwood Creek Canyon providing a natural corridor through the rugged mountain range. Without the presence of developed towns or major highways, the map focuses on the precise contouring of these public lands, showing the network of minor roads and tracks that navigate the high-country peaks and valleys.