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1955 Map of Indian Peaks

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Indian Peaks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Simpson Route of Pony Express traces a historical line through this arid basin in Tooele County, marking the path where riders once crossed between the Davis Mountains and the Simpson Mountains. The landscape transitions from the flat expanses of Skull Valley into the high elevations of Indian Peaks, which rise within the western reaches of the Wasatch National Forest.

Ephemeral water sources like Government Creek and Lee Creek dictate the layout of the land, supporting isolated outposts such as James Ranch. This 1955 survey provides a clear view of the mid-century infrastructure in the high desert, including the location of Winter Springs and a functional Water Tank along the Simpson Route. The map details the network of unimproved dirt roads and light-duty trails that linked these remote mountain ranges and ranching sites before the era of modern highway development.