2018 Map of East Pass

About this map

The Crater Range and East Pass dominate the northern landscape of this Sonoran desert region at the boundary of Maricopa and Pima counties. This arid expanse is defined by large-scale drainage patterns like Tenmile Wash, which cuts across the central flats toward the southern highlands. South of Childs Valley, the terrain ascends into the Growler Mountains and the volcanic slopes of Childs Mtn. Mapping by the U.S. Geological Survey underscores the area's isolation, showing a place where natural landforms and ephemeral watercourses like Daniels Arroyo dictate the human footprint. The map captures a moment in the modern era when this borderland remained largely defined by its topography rather than dense settlement.