2015 Map of Saltdale NW

About this map

Burro Schmidts Tunnel and the Last Chance Canyon Arch define the high desert character of this Kern County region. The terrain is dominated by the El Paso Mountains and the northern reaches of the Mojave Desert, where the landscape is carved by Last Chance Canyon and numerous drainages like Boulder Gulch and Bonanza Gulch. This map provides a clear view of the infrastructure supporting the arid valley, most notably the path of the Los Angeles Aqueduct as it skirts the edge of Red Rock Canyon. The transition from the Indian Wells Valley to the more varied elevations of the Black Hills and Red Buttes illustrates the complex topography of the eastern High Sierra rain shadow. It is a vital record for tracing mining-era landmarks and engineering feats in a landscape defined by seasonal washes like Little Dixie Wash.