1937 Map of Branch Mtn

About this map

San Rafael Mountains topography dominates this landscape at the boundary of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The rugged interior is marked by a network of ranching homesteads such as Buckhorn Ranch, Scott Ranch, and Luelling Ranch, connected by primitive trails and the winding State Highway No 166. The confluence of Branch Creek and the Cuyama River provides a focal point for the terrain, while the Pine Canyon Guard Sta serves as a lone institutional marker in the backcountry. Land ownership and surveying complexities are evident in the margin notes, which highlight the difficulty of reconciling land plats along the Mt Diablo and San Bernardino Meridians. Small named features like Los Pelados and the Avenales Ranch hint at the seasonal grazing and early frontier life of this section of the coastal range.