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1956 Map of Stepladder Mts

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Stepladder Mts
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

The Stepladder Mts dominate this mid-century desert landscape, separating the broad expanse of Ward Valley to the west from Chemehuevi Valley to the southeast. Surveyed in 1953 and field-checked in 1956, the map reveals a remote reach of the Mojave Desert defined by drainage patterns and high-altitude markers. Natural water systems like Homer Wash and Chemehuevi Wash dictate the flow of the terrain toward the lower basins.

Evidence of human activity is sparse but significant, with several shafts located in the northern hills suggesting localized mining interests. Infrastructure of the era is represented by a transcontinental Pipeline and a Jeep Trail cutting through the northern reaches. Survey points like Big Chief and Conical serve as primary navigational anchors for this arid, sparsely inhabited region of San Bernardino County.