1986 Map of Paradise Range

About this map

The Fort Irwin Military Reservation occupies a significant portion of this Mojave Desert landscape, reflecting the region's mid-century transition from remote mining district to a center for national defense and space exploration. High-tech infrastructure is represented by the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex Venus and Radio Tower Aries, standing in sharp contrast to the older resource extraction history of the Paradise Range. Traces of early 20th-century prospecting are scattered across the terrain, notably at the Gold Divide Mine, Rio Hondo Mine, and Olympus Mine. Water remains a critical but scarce feature in this arid environment, marked by isolated sites like Paradise Springs and Jack Spring, while a network of 4wd trails provides the only access through the rugged peaks of Montana and Hondo.