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1957 Map of Painted Gorge

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Painted Gorge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The Coyote Mountains dominate this arid landscape where the Yuha Desert meet the rugged terrain of West Mesa. Traces of early regional transportation are preserved here, most notably the Old Overland Stage Route and the Arizona and San Diego Eastern corridor, reflecting the historical movement of people and goods through these desert passes.

Modern land use in the mid-20th century introduces a stark contrast, with military and recreational designations overlapping the natural environment. Large swaths of the territory are occupied by the Recovery Parachute Test Range and the Carrizo Impact Area, while the western edge is preserved as part of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Along the ephemeral drainages of Coyote Wash and Palm Canyon Wash, several Gravel Pits and a Mining Railroad indicate localized industrial activity amidst the sedimentary formations of Painted Gorge.