1953 Map of The Q Ranch

About this map

The Q Ranch and its neighboring livestock operations define this mid-century landscape in the high desert of the Shirley Basin. The 1953 field check captures a period of ranching and early mineral exploration, including the Iron Mine (Inactive) located south of Prior Flat. The terrain is marked by dramatic elevation changes rising toward Moccasin and Bald Mountain, where water management is critical for survival. Evidence of hydraulic engineering is visible through an extensive network of human-made infrastructure, including a Ditch system and a Flume carrying water from Grinnell Creek to support the basin's arid pastures. From the remote Cave Creek Ranch to the curiously named geologic feature The Sinks, the map provides a high-resolution look at the drainage patterns of Troublesome Creek and Cottonwood Creek before modern developments altered the region's character.