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1950 Map of Big Pine

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Big Pine
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Big Pine Indian Rancheria and the town of Big Pine sit at the floor of the Owens Valley, serving as a gateway between the desert lowlands and the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada. This mid-century survey illustrates a landscape of extreme verticality, where the Owens River and the Southern Pacific railroad line at Zurich contrast with the glacial features of the west. Water management is a central theme of the valley floor, evidenced by the Big Pine Canal and the Powerhouse along Big Pine Creek.

To the west, the map details the high-altitude wilderness of Inyo National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park. Notable landmarks include Glacier Lodge, the string of Big Pine Lakes, and the Middle Palisade Glacier near Disappointment Pk. The presence of the Cleveland Mines and various Prospects in the Poverty Hills and Coyote Creek areas indicates the region's mining legacy, while family-named landmarks like Sanger Meadow and Owens Valley Ranch point to early ranching efforts in this demanding terrain.