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2018 Map of Saltdale NW

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Saltdale NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

The Mojave Desert terrain dominates this corner of Kern County, where the Indian Wells Valley meets the rising slopes of the El Paso Mountains. This 2018 survey reveals a landscape shaped by both geology and human engineering, notably featuring the Burro Schmidts Tunnel in the southeastern quadrant. The topography is defined by deep incisions like Nightmare Gulch and Last Chance Canyon, leading to the prominent Last Chance Canyon Arch.

Infrastructure in this arid environment is represented by the critical path of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, which runs along the western edge of the map. Historical travel routes such as the Midland Trl and Redrock Inyokern Rd cut through the desert floor, connecting points across the Red Buttes and the Black Hills. The presence of numerous named drainages, including Little Dixie Wash, Boulder Gulch, and Bonanza Gulch, illustrates the complex erosion patterns of the Red Rock Canyon vicinity.