2011 Map of Massacre Lake NW

About this map

Massacre Lake sits at the southern edge of this high desert terrain in Washoe County, where a network of ephemeral water sources and isolated springs defines the landscape. The hydrography suggests a vital but seasonal reliance on locations like Townsend Spring, Indian Spring, and Sheep Camp Spring. These named water points, alongside Post Spring and Post Canyon Spring, serve as the primary landmarks in an area otherwise characterized by its remote basins. In the northern reaches, Middle Lake occupies a large depression, while West Lake marks the transition toward the Massacre Lake basin. The lack of permanent structures or developed roads highlights the primitive nature of this corner of Nevada, where the geography remains centered on the historical necessity of locating reliable water in a semi-arid environment.