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1972 Map of Rimrock

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Rimrock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Pioneertown sits at the eastern edge of this high-desert landscape in the early 1970s, where the San Bernardino mountains meet the desert floor. The area is defined by a network of drainage systems including Pipes Canyon and Little Morongo Canyon, which have carved deep paths through the granite terrain. The mapping reveals a sparse but established human presence, marked by local landmarks like the Kee Ranch and the small settlement of Rimrock.

Evidence of the region's geological and industrial history is scattered throughout, from the dark heights of Black Lava Butte to various Prospects in the southern Water Canyon area. Notable water sources such as Chaparrosa Spring and Burns Spring appear as vital points in an arid environment. Navigating this terrain relied on a mix of maintained corridors like the Bowden Pipes Road and numerous unnamed Jeep Trails that traverse the Sawtooths and the pass at Devils Gate Pass.