2018 Map of Cottonwood Peak

About this map

Cottonwood Peak stands as a prominent high point in this remote section of Elko County, anchoring a landscape shaped by geothermal activity and sharp elevation changes. The presence of Hot Sulphur Springs along Hot Cr indicates the tectonic and volcanic history that defines the northeastern reaches of the Great Basin. To the south, the terrain descends into the broad expanse of Independence Valley, which provides a contrast to the high ridges of the Tuscarora Mountains. While the area is largely characterized by its natural features like Swimmers Flat and the deep incision of Cottonwood Creek Canyon, modern human passage is marked by River Ranch Rd, which skirts the valley floor. This survey documents the intersection of high desert hydrology and the vast public land survey system divisions in the late twenty-first century.