1985 Map of Roach

About this map

Ivanpah Lake and Roach Lake dominate this arid basin, their expansive dry beds providing a stark contrast to the high ridges of the Sheep Mountain and the Lucy Gray Mountains. The transport corridor through the Ivanpah Valley is the primary focus of development here, centered on the Union Pacific railroad line. Small industrial and railway-related hubs like Borax and Roach are situated along the tracks, serving as lonely outposts in the high desert. Beyond the rails, the landscape is defined by rugged elevation changes and resource extraction, visible in the primitive 4wd tracks and scattered Borrow Pits. The presence of a major Pipeline and the high crossing at Beer Bottle Pass illustrate the logistical challenges of moving infrastructure and energy through this steep terrain during the mid-1980s.