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2015 Map of Arched Rock

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of Arched Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

The San Andreas Fault cuts a silent, unseen line through the Pacific Ocean just offshore of the Sonoma County coast, marking a tectonic boundary that defines this shoreline. The land rises steeply from the surf to coastal heights like Little Black Mtn, carved by a series of drainage systems that empty into the sea. Notable among these is the complex basin of Russian Gulch, where the West Branch, Middle Branch, and East Branch converge before reaching the tide.

Along the immediate waterfront, the interaction of water and stone is evident in landmarks like Arched Rock and Goat Rock, which anchor local beaches. Coastal travel is limited to the corridor of Highway 1 and Meyers Grade Rd, which navigate the high ground above several named ravines including Mill Gulch and Timber Gulch. The map illustrates a dramatic meeting of geology and ocean, from the sands of Jenner Beach to the offshore hazards of Mile Rocks.