1965 Map of Smelser Pass

About this map

Buffalo Mountain and the Tobin Range dominate this high-desert landscape in northern Nevada, where the border between Humboldt and Pershing counties cuts across the rugged terrain. The 1960s survey documents a region defined by critical water sources in an arid environment, featuring Pumpernickel Reservoir, Summit Spring, and several unnamed Springs. Human activity is sparse but notable, centered on the Tipton Ranch and a remote Jeep Trail that navigates the slopes near Smelser Pass. Drainage patterns are clearly defined by Pumpernickel Creek, Ragan Creek, and Wilson Creek, which flow toward the western flats from the mountain heights. This map captures the essential infrastructure of the mid-century Great Basin, from the isolated ranching life to the industrial footprint of a small Gravel Pit.