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1952 Map of Palen Mountains

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Palen Mountains
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Chuckwalla Valley dominates this 1952 topographical study of the Colorado Desert, revealing a landscape shaped by arid drainage and early aviation infrastructure. The Parker Highway cuts through the western edge, providing access to the Coxcomb Landing Strip and the isolated Circle E Ranch. To the south, the vast Palen Dry Lake sits as a prominent basin, flanked by extensive Sand Dunes that characterize the floor of the valley.

The rugged terrain of the Palen Mountains and the Granite Mountains provides a sharp contrast to the basin floor, with Palen Pass offering a natural corridor between the peaks. Scattered Prospects and Packard Well hint at mid-century mineral exploration and the critical importance of water sources in this remote reach of Riverside County. A network of Jeep Trails and washes like Sand Draw illustrate the transient pathways used by those navigating the desert before modern development.