1987 Map of Lower Warm Springs

About this map

Saline Valley dominates this arid Inyo County landscape, where the shifting sands of The Dunes meet the steep slopes of the Saline Range. This 1987 provisional map reveals a remote environment shaped by hydrology and isolation, centered on the vital water source at Lower Warm Springs. Further north, Palm Spring (Hot) and several unnamed Springs provide critical reference points in a desert floor otherwise characterized by ephemeral drainages like Waucoba Wash. Evidence of human activity is sparse but specific, appearing as a Landing Strip and rugged 4wd routes that navigate the valley floor. The map’s focus on geothermal features and natural topography provides an essential record of the region’s extreme geography before modern changes, documenting isolated water sources such as Saline Spring and the complex contouring of the surrounding mountain ranges.