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1956 Map of Big Sur

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Big Sur
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Andrew Molera State Park anchor this coastal survey, where the steep canyons of the Santa Lucia Range meet the Pacific Ocean. The landscape is defined by the sharp vertical rise of Pfeiffer Ridge and peaks like Pico Blanco, which overlooks a network of interior camps including Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp and Jackson Camp. The winding Coast Road provides access to the shoreline, passing the distinctive Molera Rocks and the river mouth at Big Sur.

Further inland, the Ventana Wilderness protects high-elevation landmarks such as Bixby Mtn and Post Summit. The hydrological system is intricately mapped, showing the drainage of the Little Sur River and its South Fork alongside smaller streams like Pheneger Creek and Juan Higuera Creek. This map captures the mid-century balance of early state park preservation and the remote nature of the Los Padres National Forest before more modern development.