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1964 Map of Big Pine Mtn

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Big Pine Mtn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary dominates the northwestern portion of this high-altitude landscape, a protected refuge established long before the 1964 field checks. Located within the Los Padres National Forest, the terrain is defined by the massive spine of the San Rafael Mts and prominent peaks like Big Pine Mountain and Samon Peak. This mid-century survey reveals a network of backcountry infrastructure catering to forest management and early conservation efforts, including the Alamar Guard Sta and a Lookout Tower positioned for fire surveillance.

Water sources are critical to this environment, with the Sisquoc River and Indian Creek carving deep canyons through the rock. The map traces a series of isolated encampments such as Heath Campground, Bear Campground, and The Pines Campground, connected by rugged routes like the Grapevine Trail and the Santa Cruz Trail. This is a portrait of the California wilderness during a period of expanding recreational access and vital habitat preservation for the California condor.