2011 Map of Sand Pass

About this map

Sand Pass serves as a critical geographic marker in this arid Washoe County landscape, where the Sand Range meets the edge of a dry lakebed environment. The distribution of water sources like Rotten Egg Spring, Fish Spring, and Sulphur Spring suggests a reliance on scattered groundwater in a region defined by its desert characteristics. Cattle ranching and land use are evidenced by Bonham Ranch and the Dry Valley Corrals, which occupy the flatter expanses between the heights of Mission Peak and the low-lying Dry Slick. The presence of Slick Reservoir and Round Hole Spring further illustrates the management of water for livestock in a high-desert setting. This 2011 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey captures a sparsely populated interior where infrastructure is largely limited to unpaved routes and named natural landmarks that have likely served local travelers and ranchers for generations.