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2015 Map of Thumb Peak

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of Thumb Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

The Mule Mountains and Palo Verde Mountains dominate this arid landscape along the border of Riverside and Imperial counties. This 2015 survey reveals the topographic detail of the Colorado Desert, where the historic Bradshaw Trl cuts across the northern desert floor. This route, established as a stage line to the gold fields in the 1860s, remains a distinct feature of the terrain today.

Water sources are scarce in this environment, with the notable exception of Clapp Spring tucked into the eastern slopes of the mountains. The map captures the transition between the elevated peaks of Thumb Peak and the relatively flat expanse of Palo Verde Mesa to the east. Topographic depressions like Coon Hollow offer a detailed look at the drainage patterns that define this high-desert region of Southern California.