1986 Map of Pinto Mountain

About this map

The Pinto Mountains dominate this mid-1980s landscape, providing a topographical anchor for the high desert of the Joshua Tree National Monument. This area is defined by its arid drainage systems, notably Pinto Wash, which cuts across the basin floor. Historically significant for its mineral extraction, the map records several mining operations tucked into the slopes and canyons, including the Star Mine, Dalton Mine, and Old Supply Mine. To the south, the terrain levels out into the broad expanse of Turkey Flat and the Pinto Basin, bordered by the rising peaks of the Hexie Mountains. This survey, updated with 1980s aerial photography, documents the specific boundary of the Joshua Tree Wilderness as it was managed during this era, showing the intersection of protected public land and historical industrial extraction.