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1986 Map of Red Cloud Canyon

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

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Mining operations and military reservations define this high-desert landscape in the Chuckwalla Mountains during the mid-1980s. The northern portion of the quadrangle is marked by hard-rock history, including the Red Cloud Mine, Model Mine, and Great Western Mine, along with numerous unidentified prospects scattered through the canyons. These sites highlight a legacy of mineral exploration in a region where water sources like Crystal Springs were essential for survival and operations.

Southern reaches of the map transition into restricted zones, dominated by the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range and a significant Naval Reservation. Connectivity across this arid terrain is provided by the historic Bradshaw Road, which follows a roughly east-west path across the lower elevations. The map reveals the intricate drainage patterns of Red Cloud Wash and Red Cloud Canyon, illustrating how seasonal water has carved the landscape between these mountain ranges and the industrial infrastructure of the Gas Line Road.