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1965 Map of McDowell Peak

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of McDowell Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

McDowell Mountains dominate this 1960s survey, capturing a desert landscape on the cusp of suburban expansion. The Scottsdale Corporate Boundary cuts through the western portion of the sheet, marking the edge of Paradise Valley and the encroachment of development upon the high desert. Despite the proximity of the growing city, the map reveals a rugged interior defined by granite summits like McDowell Peak and Thompson Peak.

Evidence of historical prospecting is scattered throughout the hills, most notably at the Dixie Mine and various unnamed prospects. Water sources remain vital markers in this arid environment, with labels for Mountain Spring, Moore Well, and the Verde River Canal indicating the infrastructure required to sustain life and industry. The presence of Reata Pass and numerous jeep trails suggests a landscape transitioning from a mining and ranching frontier into a recreational area anchored by the McDowell Mountain Regional Park.