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1955 Map of Roach Lake

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Roach Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The dry basin of Roach Lake dominates this mid-century survey of the high desert borderlands between Clark County, Nevada, and San Bernardino County, California. This arid landscape is defined by the heavy infrastructure of the Union Pacific railroad, which supported a string of isolated desert outposts including Roach, Calada, and Borax. Historically significant boundary markers are prominent, most notably the Von Schmidt Line, representing an early attempt to survey the state line.

Mining activity is scattered throughout the surrounding peaks, with several operations such as the Lucy Grey Mines and New Year Mine appearing in the heights of the Spring Mountains. The presence of the Old Traction Road crossing the southern portion of the lake bed suggests the area's role as a transit corridor for heavy mineral hauling. These features, along with the Clark Mountain Range and peaks like Devil Peak, illustrate the intersection of difficult terrain and industrial ambition in the Mojave Desert.