2011 Map of Secret Basin

About this map

Secret Basin defines this high-desert landscape in Nye County, where water is the primary organizing principle for travel and survival. The drainage of Cottonwood Creek runs through the eastern portion of the quadrangle, serving as a corridor for Forest Service routes such as 451 and 450. This 2011 survey reveals a territory marked by dispersed water sources that likely dictated historical livestock movement and backcountry access. Named points of interest include Mississippi Springs in the west and a cluster of springs including Mud Spring, Barrel Spring, and Gale Spring further south. These features, along with Bank Spring, represent the vital water network that supported ranching and prospecting in this arid environment, connected today by primitive roads like NFD 451 RD.