1988 Map of Chuckwalla Spring

About this map

The Chuckwalla Mountains dominate this high-desert landscape in southeastern California, where the rugged peaks separate the broad basins of Riverside and Imperial counties. Water is the primary driver of human presence in this arid region, as evidenced by the distribution of Chuckwalla Spring, Mesquite Spring, and a series of isolated water sources like Indian Well and Rainey Well. These points of relief were essential for the prospectors who left behind the scattered Prospects and the unnamed Mine located deep within the range. The southern portion of the map is defined by the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, marking the intersection of military training grounds and public lands. The vast drainage of Arroyo Seco cuts across the lower plains, tracing a path toward the Little Chuckwalla Mountains and Graham Pass.