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1951 Map of Soda Lake

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Soda Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The historical Ragtown (Site) sits at the southern edge of this high-desert landscape, marking a crucial waypoint for travelers on the Old California Trail. During the early 1950s, the region’s complex hydrology is visible through the intricate drainage networks of Wade Drain and Soda Lake Drain, which feed into the Carson River. The twin volcanic craters of Soda Lake and Little Soda Lake serve as the area's most prominent landmarks, set against the low-lying Alkali Flat.

Transportation corridors dominate the terrain, with the Southern Pacific railroad cutting across the basin, supporting remote stops such as Desert Siding, Upsal Siding, and Falais Siding. To the east, the Stillwater Wildlife Management Area borders the edge of the Carson Sink, where numerous dry Lake Beds and the Mahala Slough suggest a landscape defined by seasonal water and the remnants of ancient Lahontan shorelines.