1996 Map of Bitter Spring

About this map

Fort Irwin Military Reservation dominates this desert landscape in San Bernardino County, where the high desert terrain is defined by wide alluvial fans and isolated springs. The presence of Bitter Spring near the northern edge of the map serves as a vital water source in an otherwise arid environment, typical of the remote corridors utilized for military training and scientific study. While the area lacks traditional settlements, the network of Trans Lines cutting through the southeast indicates the infrastructure required to support operations in this vast territory. This 1996 provisional map represents the region's character during a period of ongoing military use, highlighting how vital water points like Bitter Spring dictated movement through the Mojave Desert long before modern boundaries were established.