1959 Map of Whale Peak

About this map

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park preserves a landscape defined by dramatic geological transitions, centered on the high point of Whale Peak. This late 1950s survey captures the area at a time when access was primarily via a network of unnamed jeep trails that thread through the Pinyon Mountains and Vallecito Mountains. For those tracing local history and archaeology, the map marks significant cultural sites including the Split Rock Petroglyphs and additional Petroglyphs near Little Blair Valley. The terrain is characterized by broad alluvial features like the Mescal Bajada and deep drainages such as Smuggler Canyon and Bighorn Canyon. Rare water sources like Blue Spring and named flats such as Hapaha Flat provide critical context for the movement of people and livestock through this arid environment before modern recreational infrastructure became widespread.