1938 Map of Beartrap Canyon

About this map

Route 99 winds through the steep canyons of northern Los Angeles County, serving as the primary mountain artery between the Central Valley and the Los Angeles Basin during the late 1930s. The landscape is defined by the boundary between the Angeles National Forest and the Los Padres National Forest, where deep drainages like Canada de los Alamos and Piru Creek carve through the terrain. Human infrastructure in this difficult environment is concentrated along the highway corridor, evidenced by the Liebre Pumping Sta and the Halfway Inn, which likely served as a vital waypoint for travelers on the grueling Ridge Route. The presence of a prominent Beacon and a major Transmission Line underscores the area's role as a critical transit and utility corridor, connecting the state's growing urban centers through the rugged coastal ranges.