1980 Map of Secret Basin

About this map

Toiyabe Range topography dominates this 1980 survey, showing the transition from the high ridges of the Toiyabe National Forest down into the northern reaches of the Big Smoky Valley. This landscape is defined by its water sources, with numerous named points such as Mississippi Springs, Mud Spring, Barrel Spring, and Bank Spring occurring along the canyon fringes and mountain toes. Within the Secret Basin, the map records evidence of mineral exploration through several marked Prospects and the survey marker Uslm 274. The network of jeep trails and foot paths winding through Dry Canyon and around Rainier Mountain highlights the remote nature of Nye County’s interior during the late 20th century. An Indefinite Boundary line crosses the central portion of the sheet, reflecting the complex land management and surveying challenges in this portion of the Great Basin.