1971 Map of McDowell Peak

About this map

McDowell Mountains dominate this 1971 aerial perspective, revealing the stark geological textures of the Sonoran desert before widespread suburban expansion. This orthophotomosaic, prepared by the Geological Survey, uses photogrammetric methods to overlay land lines from a 1965 topographic study onto high-altitude imagery. The visual record centers on the sharp relief of McDowell Peak, providing a clear view of the drainage patterns and desert scrub that characterized the region’s uninhabited reaches during the early 1970s. To the northwest, the distinct granite formation of Pinnacle Peak stands as a prominent landmark. The map serves as a primary source for understanding the natural landscape of Maricopa County during a period when these peaks remained largely isolated from the growing metropolitan footprint.