1958 Map of Lost Horse Mtn

About this map

Joshua Tree National Monument Boundary encompasses a large portion of this desert landscape, where the high elevation of Lost Horse Valley meets the arid basins of Pleasant Valley. This mid-century survey documents a transition in land use, from the hard-rock mining legacy of the Lost Horse Mine and Hidden Gold Mine to the growing recreational importance of sites like Jumbo Rocks Campground, Ryan Campground, and White Tank Campground. The map reveals the infrastructure required to sustain life in the arid Little San Bernardino Mountains, featuring the critical path of the Colorado River Aqueduct and the Coachella Canal in the southern reaches. Numerous tanks and wells, such as Squaw Tank and the Pinyon Well (Site), are scattered across the terrain, marking essential water sources for earlier homesteaders and prospectors.