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1966 Map of Thirsty Canyon

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Thirsty Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Nellis Air Force Range dominates this mid-century topographic study, which was produced in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition between the high Pahute Mesa and the drainage systems of Thirsty Canyon and Rocket Wash. Evidence of earlier human activity is preserved in the southwest corner, where an Old Railroad Grade follows the Amargosa River near the Oasis Valley.

Genealogists and local historians can locate the former Camp Transvaal (Site) and a small Landing Strip situated along the Military Reservation Boundary. The presence of several Springs and a Prospect highlights the desert’s sparse but vital resources, while the topography rises toward Timber Mountain in the southeast. The map provides a precise look at the 1960s road network, including numerous jeep trails and the route toward Beatty.