2012 Map of Panamint Butte

About this map

Panamint Butte stands as the central landmark in this high-altitude desert region of Inyo County, situated within the southern reaches of the Cottonwood Mountains. The landscape is defined by deep drainages and steep vertical drops, notably Lemoigne Canyon and its South Fork to the north, and Panamint Canyon and Dolomite Canyon to the south. In 2012, this area remained largely defined by its natural topography and high-desert terrain rather than human settlement. The only primary corridor for travel through this part of the range is the road crossing at Towne Pass, which provides the critical link between the desert basins. Geologists and local history researchers can trace the intricate network of canyons and the watershed patterns that have shaped the geological character of the range over millennia.