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1959 Map of Cowboy Pass

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Cowboy Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Confusion Range dominance defines this high-desert basin in the late 1950s, where the dramatic peaks of Plympton Ridge and Chevron Ridge overlook the broad expanse of Tule Valley. The landscape is a study in western water management and travel, centered on vital points like Willow Spring and the Confusion Hills Res. Topographic detail reveals specialized features such as Big Horseshoe and Little Horseshoe, alongside the winding path of the Tule Spring Road as it skirts the Chalk Knolls.

Strategic mountain crossings like Cowboy Pass and Indian Pass provided essential access through the ranges for ranching and surveying parties. The naming conventions, from the Disappointment Hills to Rattlesnake Summit, speak to the challenging nature of the terrain for early settlers and geologists. This map documents a period before significant modern development, preserving the locations of remote water sources like Skunk Spr and South Tule Spring that were critical for survival in the Millard County desert.