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1957 Map of Waucoba Wash

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Waucoba Wash
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Saline Valley and the steep eastern slopes of the Inyo Mountains dominate this 1950s survey, revealing a landscape defined by isolated mineral extraction and scarce water sources. The map documents an era of active mining prospecting, highlighting sites such as the Waucoba Tungsten Mine, the Bunker Hill Mine, and the Blue Monster Mine. These industrial outposts are connected by rugged tracks through canyons like Wheeler and Lead, where the availability of water at Waucoba Camp and Willow Creek Camp was critical for survival and operations.

Evidence of the region's geological variety is found in the southeastern corner, where The Dunes rise from the valley floor near a series of natural springs. These include the thermal Palm Spring and the aptly named Badwater Springs. The transition from the high elevations of Mt Inyo down to the deep Depression of the valley floor illustrates the extreme vertical relief that historically challenged travelers and miners in this corner of Inyo County.