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1991 Map of Bear Mountain

Name: 1991 Topographic Map of Bear Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

The Blue River carves a deep path through the heart of the Apache National Forest in this 1991 provisional survey, documenting a landscape defined by high mesas and isolated ranching outposts. The winding watercourse is the primary corridor for human activity, connecting the Les Ranch settlement with the river crossing at Balke Crossing. In the higher elevations to the east, the Blue Camp FS Station and a nearby Lookout Tower indicate the importance of forest management and fire surveillance in this heavily timbered region.

Topographic variety is immense, ranging from the flat expanses of Steeple Mesa and Horse Mesa to the distinctively named Ice Cream Cone and the prominent heights of Bear Mountain. The mapping of the Sawmill Canyon Trail and numerous water sources like Sweetie Spring and Thomas Lake provides a detailed record of the backcountry infrastructure used by foresters and local ranchers before the close of the twentieth century.