2021 Map of Cox Canyon

About this map

The eastern margins of the Carson Sink meet the sharp ascent of the Stillwater Range in this desert landscape. This area is defined by the hydrologic transition from the vast alkaline flats of the sink to the steep, drainage-carved slopes of the mountains. Several vital water sources are tucked into these canyons, including Jobs Canyon Spring, High Rock Spring, and Mill Spring. Human intervention in the natural drainage is visible through the Goose Lake Bypass, which cuts across the flats toward the Big Water area. The naming of features like Lambing Canyon and Silver Hill reflects the traditional land uses of ranching and prospecting that have historically characterized this part of Churchill County. Steep elevation changes are concentrated in the east, where Cox Canyon and Kent Canyon provide rugged access points into the high country from the basin floor.