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1980 Map of Sand Pass

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Sand Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Bonham Ranch and the small settlement of Sand Pass occupy a stark transition zone between the Smoke Creek Desert and the high ridges of Mission Peak. This 1980 survey illustrates a landscape defined by its scarce water sources, where named features such as Rotten Egg Spring, Round Hole Spring, and Laird Spring provided essential lifeblood for early ranching and transit. The western edge of the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation is clearly delineated, showing the intersection of tribal lands with the industrial path of the Western Pacific railroad.

The presence of Dry Valley Corrals and a solitary Grave near the northern boundary points to the localized history of cattle handling and the quiet, personal stories of those who inhabited the Dry Valley region. From the wide alkaline flats of Pyramid Lake to the complex topography of the Terraced Hills, the map records a specific moment in the rural development of Washoe County before modern changes reached these more isolated corners of Nevada.