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1994 Map of Cowhorn Valley

Name: 1994 Topographic Map of Cowhorn Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1997
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1997

About this map

Inyo National Forest dominates this high-altitude landscape in the mid-1990s, where steep mountain ridges and deep canyons define the terrain of the Inyo Mountains. The survey documents a network of 4WD trails and unimproved tracks, such as Crooked Road, that provide access to remote mining sites like the Richie Mine and Overhang Mine. Evidence of historic mineral exploration is scattered across the peaks, with numerous Prospects and individual Prospect labels marking areas of interest near Mountain Whitney and White MT.

In the lower elevations, water sources were critical for those navigating the arid basins. Features like Cowhorn Spring and a Dry Well are essential landmarks within the broader Cowhorn Valley and the more confined Little Cowhorn Valley. Significant geological formations, including the Devils Gate and the drainage of Deadman canyon, illustrate the harsh and dramatic natural boundaries that dictated early movement and resource extraction in this part of Inyo County.