1973 Map of Christmas Canyon

About this map

China Lake Naval Weapons Center dominates the southern half of this desert landscape, characterized by restricted zones and military infrastructure like the Randsburg Wash Headquarters. In the early 1970s, this area of San Bernardino County served as a critical testing and research corridor, as evidenced by the numerous Radio Towers and specialized Restricted Access Roads crossing the terrain. The northern portion transitions into the Searles Valley (Depression), where the drainage of Teagle Wash flows toward The Pinnacles. Traces of earlier human activity are visible in the clusters of Prospects and Gravel Pits located near Christmas Canyon, while a network of primitive routes like the Jeep Trail provides the only access through the higher elevations. The map effectively captures the tension between the vast natural basin and the structured, indefinite boundaries of the mid-century defense industry.