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1949 Map of Bear Canyon

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Bear Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Hunter Liggett Military Reservation occupies a significant portion of this landscape, marking a period where military training grounds and public forest lands converged in Monterey County. The terrain is defined by the winding course of the San Antonio River and its numerous tributaries, including Milpitas Creek and Pinalito Creek. This 1949 survey illustrates the rugged drainage systems that feed into the river valley, with named canyons and gulches like Bear Canyon and China Gulch carving through the steep topography of the Los Padres National Forest.

Infrastructure is sparse, primarily consisting of the Del Venturi Road and a solitary Telephone Line that follows the river's path, highlighting the isolation of the area during the mid-20th century. The inclusion of San Miguelito and various reservation boundaries provides essential context for researchers tracing land use changes and the establishment of federal military and forest jurisdictions in central California.