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1983 Map of Cowhole Mountain

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Cowhole Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Sands sits as a quiet rail point along the Union Pacific tracks in the early 1980s, marking a transition between the elevated topography of the Bristol Mountains and the shifting terrain of the Mojave. This landscape is defined by the extensive Sand Dunes of the Devils Playground, which stretch across the central portion of the sheet toward the foot of Cowhole Mountain.

Industrial infrastructure is sparse but present, notably the Three Steel Tower Powerlines that cut across the dunes and the presence of a Prospect in the northern heights. The mapping reveals a harsh environment where seasonal drainage like Kelso Wash and man-made levees attempt to manage the movement of water and sand near the railroad, illustrating the continuous effort to maintain transport corridors through this arid California interior.