2021 Map of Castle Peaks

About this map

The New York Mountains and the namesake Castle Peaks define this high-desert landscape within the Mojave National Preserve. Historically centered on the settlement of Barnwell, the area serves as a transition point between the northern Ivanpah Valley and the southern Lanfair Valley. The map highlights the critical importance of water in this arid environment, marking several vital sources such as Willow Spring, Dove Spring, and Bathtub Spring. On the eastern edge, the Castle Mountains National Monument borders the reach of Hart Mine Rd, illustrating the intersection of modern conservation boundaries and legacy mining access. The network of unimproved roads like Ivanpah Rd and New York Mountain Rd follows the natural contours of the desert floor, tracing the same corridors that once supported early twentieth-century ranching and prospecting.