1967 Map of Cooks Mesa

About this map

Tonto National Forest land dominates this 1960s landscape, where a sophisticated network of water management features supported livestock and early habitation across the arid Yavapai County terrain. The survey identifies numerous named tanks and springs, such as Cooks Mesa Tank No 1, Picket Corral Tank, and Homestead Spring, which were vital for survival in this environment. The drainage patterns are clearly defined by Squaw Creek and the upper reaches of the New River, with distinctive landforms like The Island and Six Bar Ridge providing natural navigation markers. Evidence of human activity and infrastructure is found at the Road Junction Windmill and scattered Mine and Prospect sites. This map captures the area just before modern development began to reach deeper into the high desert, documenting the precarious balance of water sources and the network of Pack Trails and Jeep Trails that connected these remote desert outposts.