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1959 Map of Earthquake Valley

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Earthquake Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park dominates this desert landscape, where the high peaks of Grapevine Mtn and Granite Mtn look down upon ancient travel corridors. The map highlights the deep historical roots of the region, specifically tracing the Old Overland Stage Route as it cuts through the desert floor. This path connects vital waypoints such as the San Felipe-Butterfield Stage Station Historical Marker near Scissors Crossing.

Evidence of early desert living and 20th-century exploration is scattered across the basins of Earthquake Valley and Blair Valley. From the isolated Yaquitepec Site on Ghost Mtn to the Blair Valley Ranger Sta, the map records a transition from traditional trails like the Chuckwalla Trail to established landmarks. Numerous prospect pits and remote water sources like Sentenac Cienaga indicate the ongoing human effort to inhabit and navigate this arid terrain.