1961 Map of Dairy Valley

About this map

Dairy Valley and the small settlement of Dairy anchor this high-desert landscape during the early 1960s, a period defined by ranching and remote mountain pass routes. Situated along the boundary between Elko County and Box Elder County, the terrain is marked by a network of springs and canyons essential for sustaining the local livestock industry. Landmarks like Toms Cabin and Signboard Pass highlight the sparse human footprint in this corner of the Great Basin, where movement relied on a system of jeep trails and historic paths. Water management is central to the area's layout, evidenced by the Death Creek Reservoir and Granite Creek Reservoir, which capture runoff from the surrounding peaks. The topography transitions from The Baldies in the west to the deeply etched Narrows of Dairy Valley Creek, providing a clear record of the watershed before modern developments altered these rural Nevada and Utah borderlands.