2017 Map of Red Dome

About this map

Old Railroad Grade Rd cuts a clear path across this high desert landscape, tracing a historic transportation corridor through the Great Basin. The terrain is defined by prominent volcanic features and isolated peaks such as Red Dome and Airplane Hill, which provided navigational landmarks for travelers along the nearby Emigrant Trail Rd. This 2017 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents the remote northwestern Utah landscape, where sparse water sources like Pugsley Reservoir are critical points in the arid environment. The map shows the transition from the Matlin Basin up into the higher elevations of the Horse Hills and Coyote Hill. Researchers can trace the legacy of pioneer and rail history through the naming conventions of the roads and trails that continue to navigate these ancient lake beds and mountain flanks.