2022 Map of Snake Lake

About this map

The Warner Mountains dominate this high-desert landscape at the boundary of Modoc and Lassen Counties. Within the protected bounds of the Modoc National Forest, the terrain drops sharply from the South Warner ridges into the broad Surprise Valley to the east. This transition is marked by steep drainages like Waterbox Canyon and Snowslide Canyon, which channel seasonal runoff toward the valley floor. Water management is a central theme of the area's geography, evidenced by the Bare Cr Ditch and the Sworinger Reservoir, which collect and redirect flow for agricultural use in the arid basin. In the northeast, the expanse of Lower Lake sits as a prominent hydrological feature, while the southern portion of the sheet is characterized by the rising elevations of the Coppersmith Hills. Small reliable water sources, such as Van Riper Spring, provide critical points of interest in this remote corner of California.