1981 Map of Fossil Lake

About this map

Christmas Lake Valley defines the expansive desert geography of this high-desert region, where survival in the early 20th century depended on critical water sources like Mound Spring and Wardell Well. The map identifies the former community of Cliff (Site), a dry-land farming settlement that once served local homesteaders before the harsh environment led to its decline. To the north, the terrain shifts into the dunes of Sucker Flat and the protected Lost Forest Research Natural Area, an isolated stand of ponderosa pine surviving far from its typical range. This 1981 survey documents a landscape of dramatic geological features, from the dry basin of Fossil Lake to the vast Buffalo Flat, where remote 4WD tracks represent the primary infrastructure for traversing the arid flats and shifting sands.