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1986 Map of Red Bluff Mountain NW

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Red Bluff Mountain NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The Kofa National Wildlife Refuge dominates the northern reaches of this mid-1980s landscape, protecting the stark desert terrain of the Castle Dome Mountains. To the south, the landscape transitions into the Yuma Proving Ground, where military activity and conservation interests meet along a shared Military Reservation Boundary. This intersection of federal land use is a defining characteristic of the region, illustrating the dual roles of the Arizona desert as both a natural sanctuary and a site for strategic operations.

Prospectors and miners left their mark across the higher elevations, evidenced by numerous prospects, a Mine Shaft, and multiple Mine shafts tucked into the slopes. Communication and surveillance infrastructure are prominent on the Castle Dome Plain, including an Observation Tower, an Obs Tower, and a Radio Tower. These modern landmarks, along with a network of 4wd trails, connect the industrial extraction of the past with the military and conservation management of the late 20th century.