1967 Map of Crater Island SW

About this map

The Donner-Reed Trail cuts across the southern reach of this landscape, marking a historic route through the unforgiving Great Salt Lake Desert. This 1967 survey captures the intersection of the Pilot Range and the expansive Alkali Or Mud flats of the basin. Reliable water sources were critical in this arid environment, and the map documents several essential points including Donner Spring, South Patterson Spring, and a localized Well. The terrain is characterized by a stark transition from the steep elevations of the western mountains down to the level desert floor, where Sand Dunes and seasonal watercourses like Bettridge Creek disappear into the mud. Modern transit is represented only by a primitive Jeep Trail, emphasizing the isolated and primitive nature of this borderland between Box Elder and Tooele counties.