2018 Map of Wall Spring

About this map

The northern edge of the Smoke Creek Desert meets the high-desert transition of Washoe County in this 2018 survey. The landscape is defined by the sharp contrast between the arid desert flats in the south and the dramatic topography of Little Sawmill Canyon and Five Springs Canyon to the west. Essential water sources such as Wall Spring and Indian Rock Spring are key landmarks, likely serving as vital points for travelers long before the construction of modern routes like Surprise Valley Rd. To the east, Squaw Creek Valley and Freds Field occupy a broad basin between the ridges, where seasonal drainages like Squaw Cr and Dry Cr demonstrate the intermittent hydrology of the Great Basin. This map provides a clear picture of the historical travel corridors and seasonal grazing lands used throughout the region's ranching and transit history.