2018 Map of West of Furnace Creek

About this map

Cottonball Marsh and the surrounding alkaline flats of Cottonball Basin dominate this portion of Death Valley National Park. The landscape is defined by its extreme elevation changes, dropping from the high slopes of Tucki Mtn in the west down toward the Middle Basin in the east. Intermittent drainage patterns are clearly visible through Tucki Wash, Blackwater Wash, and Furnace Cr Wash, which convey seasonal runoff into the sink. Near the eastern edge, the Furnace Creek Airport stands as a rare piece of infrastructure in the desert, located just south of the winding walls of Mustard Canyon. The survey illustrates the geological complexity of the Mojave Desert floor, where Salt Creek meanders through the central valley, creating a unique hydrological environment at one of the lowest points in North America.