2015 Map of Pinto Wells

About this map

Joshua Tree National Park dominates this desert landscape, where the high ridges of the Coxcomb Mountains and the Eagle Mountains frame a wide, arid corridor. This 2015 survey reveals a terrain defined by ancient drainage patterns and modern infrastructure, most notably the Colorado River Aqueduct which cuts across the southern portion of the sheet. The dry channel of Pinto Wash winds through the Pinto Basin, illustrating the hydraulic history of this corner of the Mojave Desert. Evidence of remote desert activity is sparse but specific, including the named Pinto Wells and the utilitarian path of Phone Line Rd. The map provides a precise look at the intersection of protected wilderness and the engineering required to transport water across the Chuckwalla Valley. Researchers can trace the rugged topography from the depths of Bald Eagle Canyon to the alluvial fans spilling into the basin floor.