2021 Map of Iron Mountains

About this map

The Colorado River Aqueduct carves through the southern expanse of this desert landscape, representing a massive feat of mid-century engineering designed to transport water across the arid interior of San Bernardino County. To the north, the ephemeral bed of Danby Lake marks the lowest point of a wide basin where sediment and salt accumulate between mountain ranges. The terrain is dominated by the jagged peaks of the Iron Mountains and the Kilbeck Hills, which separate the expansive reaches of Ward Valley and Cadiz Valley. This 2021 survey illustrates a region defined by its isolation and specialized infrastructure, where the straight line of Power Line Rd and the path of the aqueduct are the primary signs of human intervention in an otherwise desolate geologic environment.