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1956 Map of Seventeen Palms

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Seventeen Palms
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Anza-Borrego State Park and the Torres Martinez Indian Reservation meet in this desert landscape, where the shifting sands of the Imperial and San Diego county line reveal a history of resource extraction and seasonal water. The Calcite Mine stands as a prominent landmark in the western hills, while the northeastern corner shows the developing shoreline of the Salton Sea near Salton Sea Beach.

Ephemeral drainage patterns are central to the terrain, defined by extensive systems like Palm Wash, Big Grave Wash, and the wide Arroyo Salada. These washes connect isolated water sources, including Seventeen Palms and Four Palms Spring, which were vital for travelers navigating the arid corridor. The presence of the Truckhaven Trail suggests the early routes used to traverse this complex network of canyons and mesas before modern infrastructure reached the basin.