2012 Map of Cottonwood Canyon

About this map

The Cottonwood Mountains dominate this high-elevation Inyo County landscape, defined by a complex network of deep drainage systems that feed toward the valley floor. In the early twenty-first century, these desert corridors remained largely inaccessible, shaped by seasonal water flow rather than human development. The map follows the extensive path of Cottonwood Canyon as it winds through the central and southern reaches, joined by tributary drainages such as Dead Horse Canyon. To the north, Marble Canyon cuts through the high terrain, while Lemoigne Canyon occupies the southeastern corner. This survey documents the raw topography of the Great Basin, where the lack of roads and settlements emphasizes the primitive state of this protected California wilderness.