1987 Map of Rhyolite Ridge SW

About this map

Fish Lake Valley dominates the western portion of this 1980s landscape, a high-desert floor punctuated by isolated water sources and industrial remnants. The terrain transitions from the alluvial flats near Flowing Well and Mud Spring to the steep eastern ridges, where the influence of mining is evident through features such as Prospects, Tailings, and an Open Pit Mine. Small markers of human occupation and movement appear as a Ruin and the localized path through The Crossing. To the south, Icehouse Canyon carves into the upland slopes, providing a distinct drainage route amidst the arid elevations. This map captures a moment in the Great Basin’s late 20th-century history, documenting the continued interplay between sparse desert hydrology and the persistent search for mineral wealth in the mountains of Esmeralda County.