2021 Map of Horse Thief Canyon

About this map

Death Valley National Park occupies the southern reaches of this arid landscape, where the northern floor of Eureka Valley meets the rising elevations of the Sylvania Mountains. This 2021 survey traces the vital backcountry arteries that cross the High Desert, most notably the Death Valley / Big Pine Road which cuts across the valley floor. The topography is defined by dramatic drainage systems like Horse Thief Canyon and Cucomungo Canyon, which channel occasional runoff from the high peaks toward the lowlands of the Mojave Desert. To the east, the steep gradients of the Last Chance Range form a formidable natural barrier. Water remains the primary architect of the land here, evidenced by the winding courses of Willow Wash and Willow Creek, highlighting the sparse but essential hydrography of this Inyo County wilderness.