1969 Map of Iron Mountain

About this map

Smith Creek Valley dominates this high-desert landscape in central Nevada, where the vast (DEPRESSION) basin transitions into the steep slopes of the Toiyabe National Forest. This 1969 field-checked survey highlights the critical role of transportation and water in this arid environment, showing the Old Overland Road crossing the northern valley floor while a primitive Jeep Trail and Elkhorn Road wind through the southern canyons. Significant topographical features like Iron Mountain and Saddle Back loom over the valley, creating the gateway known as Railroad Pass. The presence of a solitary Landing Strip and isolated water sources like Brown Well underscore the remote nature of this ranching and grazing land during the late 1960s. Small industrial markers, including several Borrow Pits, reflect local maintenance and construction efforts along these desert routes.