2018 Map of Coal Oil Canyon

About this map

The Kern Lake Bed and the foothills of the San Emigdio Mountains define this southern reach of the San Joaquin Valley in 2018. The settlement of Lakeview sits near the intersection of Old River Rd and Copus Rd, anchoring a landscape transitioned from historic lakebed into a grid of agricultural and transport infrastructure. Modern engineering is prominent, specifically the Governor-Edmund-G-Brown California Aqueduct which cuts across the central flats to manage the region's water. To the south, the terrain rises sharply into the Pleito Hills, where deep drainages like Coal Oil Canyon and Telegraph Canyon descend from the mountains. Specialized land use is evident at the Skydive San Joaquin Valley Airport, while the tiny enclave of Wheeler Ridge stands at the southeastern edge, where the valley floor meets the rising mountain slopes.