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1966 Map of Bear Mountain

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Bear Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

El Tejon dominates the western slopes of this terrain, where the landscape transitions into the rugged heights of Bear Mtn. The 1966 survey, later photoinspected in the early 1970s, reveals a network of infrastructure supporting the remote ranching and water management needs of Kern County. Evidence of mid-century industrial development is clear through the prominent Pipeline corridors and various Water Tanks scattered across the high country.

Deep canyons like Sycamore Canyon and Little Sycamore Canyon carve through the mountains, leading toward the high grazing lands of Bear Valley. These upland flats, including Horsethief Flat and Oak Flat, are connected by a sparse system of unimproved tracks and the winding Bear Valley Road. Numerous water sources, such as Rock Spring and Clear Creek, highlight the essential features for navigating and maintaining livestock in this arid interior range.