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2016 Map of McKinney Springs

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of McKinney Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

McKinney Springs and the surrounding desert landscape of Big Bend National Park define this arid region of West Texas. The map details a rugged transition from the low-lying Tornillo Flat to the high ridges of the Sierra del Carmen and the Sierra del Caballo Muerto. This area is historically significant for its limited but vital water sources, including the namesake McKinney Spring and Muskhog Spring, which served as critical stops for travelers in the Chihuahuan Desert.

Transportation through this difficult terrain is marked by the Old Ore Rd, a historic route once vital for hauling minerals from local mines to railheads. The landscape is deeply carved by intermittent drainages such as Cottonwood Draw, Hannold Draw, and Javalina Cr. The presence of landmarks like Stuarts Peak and the Black Peaks provides a clear view of the complex geological formations that dominate the eastern portion of the park, where narrow passages like Telephone Canyon cut through the limestone mountains.