2021 Map of Pinta Playa

About this map

Sierra Pinta dominates this portion of the Sonoran landscape, providing a sharp vertical contrast to the surrounding desert basins. The map illustrates a harsh, arid geography where the Mohawk Valley to the north gives way to the central massif. This 2021 survey reveals a stark geological intersection where the light-toned sands of the Tule Desert meet the dark, volcanic remnants of the Pinacate Lava Flow at the southern edge. The namesake Pinta Playa sits on the western margin, a dry lake bed that serves as a significant drainage point for this corner of Yuma County. The absence of roads or permanent structures underscores the isolated nature of the Pinacate Valley and its surrounding terrain, which remains defined by natural boundaries and the Public Land Survey System grid.