2018 Map of Blue Canyon

About this map

Emigrant Gap and the Tahoe National Forest anchor this survey of the high Sierras, where water management and transportation infrastructure dominate the landscape. The intricate network of the Upper Boardman Canal, Yuba Canal, and Drum Canal illustrates the historical engineering required to move water across these mountain ridges, feeding into the Drum Forebay. Evidence of mid-century industrial activity and modern recreation exist side-by-side, from the Zion Hill Tunnel and Last Chance Mine Rd to the numerous Nordic ski trails such as Twice-is-Nice Nordic. The settlement at Blue Canyon sits near the Blue Canyon - Nyack Airport, while the northern reaches of the map are defined by the high-elevation waters of Lake Spaulding and Rucker Lake. High points like Clyde Mtn and Zion Hill look down upon the South Yuba River, marking a terrain defined by steep ravines and vital transit corridors.