2015 Map of Painted Gorge

About this map

Coyote Mountains dominate the western portion of this Imperial County landscape, where the steep elevation contours of the range drop sharply into the arid floor of the Yuha Desert. The drainage patterns of the Colorado Desert are clearly defined by the intricate networks of Palm Canyon Wash and the S Fork Coyote Wash, which move ephemeral runoff across the basin toward Coyote Wash. To the north, the West Mesa provides a stark contrast to the deeply etched topography of the Painted Gorge, a geologic feature that draws its name from the varied mineral colors found in its walls. Human activity in this desert environment is represented by light-duty routes such as Munson Ln and Munson Trl, which navigate the transitional terrain between the mountain foothills and the expansive salt-crusted flats to the east.