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1960 Map of Spencer Hot Springs

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Spencer Hot Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Smoky Valley serves as the central corridor for this 1960 survey, illustrating a landscape defined by historic transit and groundwater resources. The map highlights the intersection of several legendary western trails, including the Pony Express Route and the Overland Stage Route, which converge near Cape Horn. Geologists and historians will find significant detail in the mining activity on the eastern slopes of the valley, where the Lowboy Mine, Conquest Mine, and Linka Mine are situated near Artesian Wells.

To the west, the Simpson Park Mountains rise sharply, providing a backdrop for isolated water sources like Blackbird Spring and Reeder Spring. The presence of Blackbird Ranch and Birch Creek Ranch suggests the importance of these springs for sustaining livestock and early habitation. Landmarks such as the Cape Horn Overland Stage Station (Site) and the namesake Spencer Hot Springs anchor the map’s historical value, marking essential stops for travelers and settlers in this high-desert region of Nevada.