2021 Map of Vaya Chin

About this map

The settlement of Vaya Chin serves as a focal point in this 2021 survey of the Sonoran landscape in Pima County. Situated within the wide expanse of the Quijotoa Valley, the area is defined by its arid drainage systems, most notably the winding course of the San Simon Wash. To the north, the Castle Mountains rise sharply from the valley floor, while the southern reaches are anchored by the prominent elevations of Sierra Blanca. This modern topographic study reveals the infrastructure of the Tohono O'odham Nation, traced primarily by Indian Rte 34 as it connects the remote desert community with the surrounding basin. The map provides a clear record of land management and natural topography at the start of the 2020s, documenting the persistence of traditional place names and the established desert road network.