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1959 Map of Whale Peak

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Whale Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park encompasses this mid-century topographic survey, revealing a landscape defined by dramatic elevation changes between the Pinyon Mountains and the Vallecito Mountains. The map provides specific evidence of indigenous and early human history through the location of Petroglyphs and a Tunnel, while the presence of a Mine and numerous Jeep Trails indicates early 20th-century exploration and resource extraction.

Hydrological features like Blue Spring and a network of desert washes, including Chuckwalla Wash and Quartz Vein Wash, suggest the seasonal water patterns critical to life in this arid region. The vast Mescal Bajada and secluded basins such as Little Blair Valley and Harper Flat illustrate the complex geomorphology that characterizes this portion of San Diego County, centered on the high point of Whale Peak.