1968 Map of Lake Ridge

About this map

The Old Central Pacific Grade cuts a diagonal path through the northwest corner of this Box Elder County landscape, marking the historic path of the first transcontinental railroad across the Great Salt Lake Desert. In this 1968 field-checked survey, the topography is dominated by the stark contrast between the low-lying Mud Flat and Salt Wells Flat to the west and the rising elevation of Lake Ridge to the east. Water sources are scarce and mineral-heavy, as evidenced by several points labeled Spring (Salt), while Cedar Spring provides a named landmark at the base of the ridge. The presence of a Pipeline and a Gravel Pit indicates the industrial utility of this arid terrain in the late 1960s, while numerous bench marks like BM 4273 provide precise elevation data for the basin floor.