2014 Map of Paymaster Ridge

About this map

Paymaster Ridge and the surrounding high desert of Esmeralda County define this landscape, where early 21st-century topography meets a network of primitive roads and ancient hydrology. The map centers on the transition between the Weepah Hills and the expansive Montezuma Valley, marked by the seasonal waters of Alkali Lake. In this arid environment, water sources are the primary landmarks for navigation and historic land use, specifically Pearl Hot Springs and Twin Springs. The topography is dissected by significant drainage features like Paymaster Canyon and the prominent heights of Joes Peak. These corridors, followed by routes such as Paymaster Canyon Rd and Alkali Rd, suggest long-standing paths through the Great Basin terrain toward the Clayton Valley and the Ralston Desert.