1987 Map of East of Victory Pass

About this map

The Coxcomb Mountains dominate the northern landscape of this Riverside County region, their sharp relief contrasting with the expansive basins of the Chuckwalla Valley and Palen Valley. In this mid-1980s environment, the interplay between desert hydrology and industry is evident, with Palen Lake situated near shifting Sand Dunes and scattered prospects marking the foothills. The presence of the Desert Center Airport in the south provides a localized center of activity within the arid flats, while the terrain's geological history is etched into the landscape by numerous gravel pits and isolated water wells. This survey documents a critical junction of mountain ranges and valley floors just prior to modern expansion, preserving the locations of early mineral exploration and remote infrastructure.