1980 Map of Smith Canyon

About this map

The Western Pacific railroad cuts a straight line through the high desert of Washoe County, following the northwestern edge of the Fox Range. This 1980 survey illustrates a landscape defined by the sharp transition between the flat, expansive Smoke Creek Desert and the rising mountain slopes. Along the rail line, Bronte (Siding) marks a specific point of industrial infrastructure in an otherwise sparse environment. To the southeast, the topography becomes significantly more complex as the terrain ascends into the Cottonwood Basin and the winding corridor of Smith Canyon. Several isolated water sources, including a Spring near the canyon and the seasonal drainage of Cottonwood Creek, suggest the vital locations for life and transit in this arid region. The presence of 4wd tracks indicates the limited overland accessibility used to reach these interior mountain features and survey benchmarks like BM 3854.