1988 Map of Grotto Canyon

About this map

Tucki Mountain dominates the southern landscape of this Inyo County survey, its complex contours rising sharply above the desert floor. This 1980s topographic study captures the striking transition between the high peaks and the low-lying Death Valley National Monument. To the north, the topography flattens into an area marked by Sand Dunes and the curiously named Devils Cornfield, a botanical landmark of arrowweed clumps. Hydrological features like the seasonal Salt Creek and McLean Spring provide critical context for the drainage patterns leading toward the Cottonball Basin. The map also documents the descent through Grotto Canyon, illustrating the dramatic erosion patterns that define the canyon walls. While primarily a record of natural landforms, the inclusion of the Trans Line corridor shows the limited but essential human infrastructure traversing this arid environment.