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1986 Map of Harris Hill

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Harris Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Keeler Mine and the Quackenbush Mine sit among the high elevations of the Cottonwood Mountains, marking a landscape defined by 20th-century resource extraction. This 1980s survey captures the area within the Death Valley National Monument prior to its later redesignation as a National Park. The map reveals a reliance on isolated water sources such as Goldbelt Spring, Hunter Spring, and Cottonwood Springs, which were essential for both mining operations and travel through the arid terrain.

Evidence of historical prospecting is scattered throughout the region, including an Open Pit Mine and numerous unnamed prospects. Named for legendary desert figure Shorty Harris, Shorty Harris Canyon and Harris Hill serve as geographical tributes to the era of individual mineral exploration. The topography transitions from the high peaks of Hunter Mountain down through deeply etched drainages like Marble Canyon and Horse Canyon, showing the complex network of 4wd tracks used to navigate this corner of Inyo County.