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1938 Map of Beartrap Canyon

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Beartrap Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

The mountain pass corridors of northern Los Angeles County are captured here during the 1930s, showing the early infrastructure that connected the Central Valley to the coast. Route 99 winds through the canyons, serving as a primary artery alongside a major Transmission Line and the Liebre Pumping Sta. Small roadside outposts like the Halfway Inn and landings such as French Flat and Osito provide evidence of early automobile-era travel and local habitation in this demanding landscape.

Water management and forest boundaries define the geography, with the map recording the meeting point of the Los Padres National Forest and Angeles National Forest. Significant drainage systems including Piru Creek and Beartrap Canyon are mapped in detail, showing the intricate network of gulches like West Fork Liebre Gulch that funnel into the deeper canyons. This survey reflects the mid-century intersection of utility development and protected federal lands.