1948 Map of Red Pass Lake

About this map

Camp Irwin Military Reservation dominates this 1948 topographic landscape, reflecting the significant military expansion in the High Desert following World War II. The terrain is characterized by the formidable heights of the Ava Watz Mountains in the northeast, which contrast sharply with the dry lake beds found at lower elevations. Red Pass Lake and a portion of Silver Lake appear as prominent ephemeral water features, providing crucial geographic markers in an otherwise arid environment. This survey captures a moment when the area was transitionally managed by the Camp Irwin Military Reservation, showing a landscape primarily defined by its natural topography and military boundaries rather than civilian settlement. A small Cem label provides a rare point of human interest for genealogists tracing early activity in this remote corner of San Bernardino County.