1986 Map of Red Pass Lake

About this map

The Fort Irwin Military Reservation dominates the western half of this arid landscape, its boundary cutting through the heart of the Mojave Desert’s rugged topography. To the southeast, the dry expanse of Red Pass Lake rests at the base of the Soda Mts, while the northeast opens into the broad Silurian Valley. The map reveals a history of resource extraction, with several Prospects and an Open Pit scattered along the high ground near Red Pass. Infrastructure in this mid-1980s survey is minimal, consisting of isolated Transmission Lines, a lonely Landing Strip within the military boundary, and primitive 4 WD tracks that navigate the washes and passes. This map provides a clear look at the intersection of federal military land management and the legacy of desert prospecting.