2018 Map of Cortez Peak

About this map

Cortez Peak rises as a prominent landmark within the northern reaches of the Gila Bend Mountains, overseeing a desert landscape defined by complex drainage systems and a rigid grid of access roads. The southern half of the map is dominated by the mountainous terrain where Copper Wash, Loudermilk Wash, and the notably named Fourth of July Wash carve through the topography. In contrast, the northern section transitions into the flat expanse of the Harquahala Plain. This area is marked by a transition from traditional desert tracks like W Clanton Trl and Arlington-Clanton Well Rd to a highly regularized system of numbered avenues and streets. The presence of Agua Caliente Rd and W Whitewing Pass suggests the historical and modern transit corridors used to navigate this arid environment in Maricopa County.