2018 Map of Murphy Gap

About this map

The Golden Gate Range dominates this portion of Lincoln County, Nevada, creating a high-altitude spine between Garden Valley and Wild Horse Valley. This 2018 survey documents the remote high-desert topography of the Great Basin, where water remains the primary driver of movement and name-giving. Reliable water sources like Sharp Spring and Tule Spring are vital markers in this arid landscape. Human passage is defined by the winding course of Mail Summit Rd, which traverses the terrain toward Murphy Gap, a natural pass through the mountains. To the south, Cold Spring Rd runs parallel to the drainage of Cold Springs Wash, illustrating how desert transit routes are dictated by the natural corridors formed by the range and its alluvial fans.