2021 Map of Cadiz Valley SE

About this map

Joshua Tree National Park spans the southern portion of this landscape, where the high peaks of the Coxcomb Mountains rise sharply from the desert floor. This area of the Mojave Desert is defined by its vast alluvial plains and the critical infrastructure of the Colorado River Aqueduct, which cuts a straight line across the Cadiz Valley before entering the mountains near the West Iron Portal. The map illustrates the convergence of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, capturing the transition from the broad, sandy reaches of the Palen Valley to the rugged granite ridges that form a natural boundary. The engineering required to transport water through such arid terrain is evident in the aqueduct's precise path, which bypasses the natural contours of the desert flats to reach its mountain transit point.