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2018 Map of Snowball Ranch

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Snowball Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

Snowball Ranch serves as a central landmark in this remote section of Nye County, where the desert landscape is defined by its vital water sources. The map reveals a complex network of springs, such as Wild Indian Spring, Pine Spring, and Willow Spring, which likely supported early ranching and migration through this arid territory. These springs feed intermittent drainages like Indian Cr and Snowball Cr, illustrating the critical role of hydrology in Great Basin settlement patterns.

The topography is anchored by the heights of Bills Peak and the Antelope Range, which overlook the dramatic descent of Cottonwood Canyon. Toward the southern end of the quadrangle, Moonshine Creek winds through the hills, providing a glimpse into the local naming conventions that often reflected the rugged or clandestine history of the Nevada backcountry. This 2018 survey documents the enduring physical character of the land and its few established homesteads.