1948 Map of Haunted Canyon

About this map

Miles Ranch and Tony Ranch represent the sparse human footprint within this high-desert landscape of the Tonto National Forest during the late 1940s. The terrain is defined by a dense network of springs and drainages, where colorful local nomenclature such as Fifty Dollar Spr, Bootlegger Spr, and Mowing Machine Spr suggests the specific sites of early 20th-century ranching activity and pioneer transit. The map records the convergence of Maricopa and Pinal counties across the northern peaks, while the Gila and Salt River Base Line serves as a critical surveying anchor to the south. From the heights of Pinto Peak and Sawtooth Ridge, the land drops into the namesake Haunted Canyon and the winding course of Pinto Creek, documenting a complex watershed before modern infrastructure altered many regional western waterways.