2021 Map of Big Mountain

About this map

Big Mtn and the neighboring Little Big Mtn dominate this high-desert landscape in northern Nevada. The terrain is defined by the sharp transition from the northwestern reaches of the Black Rock Desert into the elevated peaks of the Black Rock Range. This environment is punctuated by a network of critical water sources, from the Bawling Calf Reservoir to numerous family-named and wildlife-centric springs. Historically significant for ranching and passage through the Great Basin, the area's hydrology is carefully documented with named points such as Mustang Springs, Opal Spring, and Cancer Spring. The map reveals a remote territory where drainages like Paiute Creek and Copper Canyon carve through the basin and range geology, illustrating the sparse but vital water infrastructure of Humboldt County.