1983 Map of McCoy Spring

About this map

Mc Coy Mountains dominate the northeastern portion of this Riverside County landscape, where the arid terrain is defined by a complex network of seasonal watercourses. The drainage patterns of numerous Dry Wash features converge as they descend toward the Chuckwalla Valley (Depression), illustrating the harsh hydrological realities of the California desert in the early 1980s. A vital water source in this environment is McCoy Spring, situated near the base of the mountains, while the southern reaches are marked by the expansive, flat surface of Ford Dry Lake. Local industry is evidenced by scattered prospects along the mountain slopes, and the area is navigated by primitive 5 Jeep trails. This provisional survey captures the transition from high desert peaks to low-lying basins, documenting the isolation and geological structure of the region prior to more modern developments.