1967 Map of Bloody Basin

About this map

The high desert topography of Tonto National Forest is defined here by the winding drainages and volcanic remnants of the Bloody Basin. This mid-century survey documents a remote landscape where water sources like Soda Springs, Tear Spring, and Peet Spring dictated the placement of early cattle operations. Notable family and working outfits include the TT Ranch, LX Bar Ranch, and Dugan Ranch, alongside simple shelters such as the Tangle Creek Cabin. The map captures an era when transportation across this complex terrain relied heavily on a network of established jeep trails connecting remote livestock tanks like Javelina Tank and Turtle Tank. Evidence of early resource extraction is preserved at the Marble Mine near Soda Spring No 1, while landmarks like Turret Peak and Ruin Point provided essential navigation points for ranchers and surveyors working the deep canyons of the Mustang Hills.