1965 Map of Childs Valley

About this map

Luke Air Force Range dominates the northern half of this landscape, where the jagged topography of the Crater Range creates a natural barrier across the desert floor. During the mid-1960s, this region of the Sonoran Desert served as a critical military training ground and wildlife refuge. The map illustrates a sparse water network, where drainage is defined by Tenmile Wash and Daniels Arroyo, cutting through the vast Childs Valley. Evidence of early cattle ranching or transit is found at Paddit Well (Dry) and Okie Well (Dry), both listed as dry by the time of the 1961 aerial photography. To the south, the Cabeza Prieta Game Range and the Growler Mts provide a stark contrast to the valley floor, connected only by scattered jeep trails and the high point of Malpais Hill.