2015 Map of Little Mule Mountains

About this map

The Little Mule Mountains define the central topography of this Imperial County desert landscape, where the arid environment is shaped by significant ephemeral watercourses. To the north, the Smoketree Valley spreads between elevated terrain, flanked by the Black Hills in the northeast corner. This map illustrates the intricate drainage patterns of the region, most notably the Milpitas Wash which trends eastward across the center of the sheet, and the Arroyo Seco in the northwest. These seasonal washes are critical features of the Colorado Desert, indicating the path of flash flood waters through the alluvial fans. In the far southwest, the elevation rises toward Blue Mtn, providing a stark contrast to the lower-lying basin floors. The public land survey system grid, including t10s r18e and t11s r18e, provides a formal structure to this largely undeveloped expanse of public lands.