2012 Map of Cottonwood Peak

About this map

The South Fork Owyhee River carves a winding path through this northern Nevada landscape, dominated by the high ground of Cottonwood Peak and the steep walls of Cottonwood Creek Canyon. The map documents a sparsely populated but geographically significant portion of Elko County, where cattle ranching and natural geothermal features have long defined human activity. The eastern edge of the quadrangle shows the Spanish Ranch, a notable landmark in the region's agricultural history. Hydrological interest centers on Hot Sulphur Springs and the convergence of several drainages, including Skull Creek, Hot Creek, and Bull Creek. While roads are few, Co RD 730 provides the primary transit link through this terrain of river forks and mountain summits, illustrating the scale and isolation of the Great Basin's high-desert ranching country.