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2021 Map of Coxcomb Mountains

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Coxcomb Mountains
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

The Coxcomb Mountains dominate this 2021 landscape, their complex topography forming a natural barrier along the eastern edge of Joshua Tree National Park. The survey highlights the intersection of protected wilderness and vital infrastructure, most notably where the Colorado River Aqueduct traverses the basin. This massive water conveyance system winds through the arid terrain, illustrating the engineering required to move water across the California desert.

To the south, the terrain descends into the Chuckwalla Valley, a stark contrast to the high ridges of the park. Transportation in this corner of Riverside County is limited to a few arterial routes such as Rice Rd and the unpaved Coxcomb Monument Rd, which provides access to the monument area at the mountains' base. The map captures the scale of the southern California interior, where federal land management and major utilities define the character of the land.