1957 Map of Painted Gorge

About this map

The Coyote Mountains dominate this arid landscape where steep topography transitions into the expansive West Mesa. Traces of mid-century military and industrial activity are evident throughout, notably in the Naval Reservation (Aerial Gunnery Range) and the Mining Railroad spur in the northeastern corner. Transportation history is layered here, with the Old Overland Stage Route cutting across the desert flats while the San Diego and Arizona Eastern corridor follows the southern drainage patterns. This 1957 field-checked map records a period when the desert was a primary zone for extraction and training, punctuated by several Gravel Pits and various Jeep Trails. The western reaches include a portion of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, capturing the protected natural environment adjacent to the active geologic formations of Painted Gorge and the seasonal flows of Coyote Wash.