2021 Map of Vermillion Canyon

About this map

Owens Lake dominates the northwestern quadrant of this landscape, its expansive bed marking the floor of the Owens Valley where the Great Basin meets the northern reaches of the Mojave Desert. The map documents a stark topographical transition, rising from the lake basin into the elevated terrain of the Coso Range and Red Ridge. Evidence of the region’s volcanic and geothermal character is grounded in features like Dirty Socks Spring, located near the intersection of the valley floor and the rising slopes. The southern half of the sheet is defined by complex drainage patterns, most notably Vermillion Canyon, which cuts through the high country. Navigational routes like Lava Lk Rd and Fall Rd provide the only access through this arid environment, illustrating the sparse settlement and remote nature of this portion of Inyo County.