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1954 Map of Picacho NW

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Picacho NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Colorado River serves as a winding lifeblood for this borderland during the mid-1950s, defining the boundary between California and Arizona within the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. The riparian landscape is marked by a string of oxbows and backwaters, including Cibola Lake, Walker Lake, and Draper Lake, which contrast sharply with the surrounding desert terrain. Evidence of earlier river-based commerce and settlement appears at Paymaster Landing (Site) and the Clip Mill (Site), points where the river once met the needs of remote prospectors and travelers.

Industrial and agricultural attempts are visible at Draper Ranch and along the various dry washes like Vinagre Wash and Clip Wash that cut through the Trigo Mountains. The map records a specific era of navigation and land use before modern changes, noting landmarks like Lighthouse Rock and the remote Coxcomb peak. The presence of numerous jeep trails suggests a landscape transitioning from historical mining activity to one of conservation and seasonal recreation.