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1951 Map of Waucoba Wash

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Waucoba Wash
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Mining operations and remote springs define this 1951 topographic survey of the Inyo County desert. The eastern slopes of the Inyo Mountains descend sharply into the Saline Valley, a low-lying basin marked by The Dunes and a significant land depression. This era highlights a robust industrial presence in the high desert, with several extractive sites scattered throughout the canyons, most notably the White Eagle Talc Mine, Grey Eagle Talc Mine, and the Waucoba Tungsten Mine.

Water sources are vital landmarks in this arid landscape, including the aptly named Badwater Springs (Undrinkable), Lower Warm Springs, and Palm Spring. Human transit is limited to rugged paths like the Pat Keyes Trail, which winds through the steep topography of Keyes Canyon. The presence of the Willow Creek Camp near the talc mines suggests the localized settlement patterns of mid-century desert labor.