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1965 Map of McDowell Peak

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of McDowell Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Mc Dowell Mountains dominate this 1965 survey, forming a prominent spine that separates the developing desert floor from the protected wilderness of the Tonto National Forest. The landscape is a study in the transition between early mid-century resource extraction and the northward expansion of Scottsdale. Evidence of the area's prospecting history is visible through the Dixie Mine and various unnamed prospects scattered across the high ridges of Mc Dowell Peak and Thompson Peak.

On the western slopes, the Scottsdale Corporate Boundary indicates the town's push into Paradise Valley, while remnants of early infrastructure like the Old Verde Canal and numerous remote water sources, including Mountain Spring and Moore Well, reflect the challenges of managing this arid terrain. The presence of Reata Pass and various jeep trails highlights the historic routes used by early settlers and later recreationists long before modern subdivisions reached these peaks.