1965 Map of Bald Mountain

About this map

Los Padres National Forest hosts a network of backcountry sites and rugged terrain in this 1965 manuscript sheet. The topography is dominated by the Sierra Madre Mountains and the San Rafael Mountains, separated by the Sisquoc River valley. This unedited copy captures the landscape before formal publication, showing numerous remote outposts like Manzana Camp and Water Canyon Camp. Evidence of human passage is etched into the canyons through the Mule Trail and Bald Mountain Trail, which traverse ridges like the curiously named Hurricane Deck. Cultural traces are sparse but significant, including identified Ruins and a lone Grave near Wellman Canyon. The southern portion of the map transitions into Sunset Valley, where Davey Brown Camp and Nira Camp are situated along the tributaries of Manzana Creek.