2015 Map of Petroglyph Canyon

About this map

Petroglyph Canyon and the surrounding Coso Range characterize this portion of the northern Mojave Desert in eastern California. The landscape is defined by a complex network of steep drainages, including Wild Horse Canyon, Black Canyon, and Sheep Canyon, which descend from the high elevations of Wild Horse Mesa. This 2015 survey illustrates the land's transition from the prominent mesa tops down into deep, named canyons such as Horse Canyon and the aptly named Dead End Canyon. The map provides a precise look at the land's topography through 20-foot contour intervals, tracing the arid terrain where local history and geology intersect at the southern edge of the range. The absence of modern development on the sheet highlights the preserved, natural state of these drainage systems and high-desert landmarks.