2012 Map of West of Palen Pass

About this map

The Granite Mountains define the northeastern corner of this Riverside County landscape, where the high desert terrain transitions into a vast alluvial fan system. This 2012 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents a sparse but deliberate human footprint in the California desert, primarily represented by the passage of Coxcomb Monument Rd. The map illustrates the complex drainage patterns and desert washes that extend westward from the mountain base, providing a high-resolution look at the natural topography before any significant modern development or environmental change altered the corridor. It serves as a definitive record of the road networks and geological features during the early 21st century.