1952 Map of Branch Mtn

About this map

Buckhorn Ranch and other remote cattle stations define the high country of the Los Padres National Forest in this early 1950s survey. The landscape is dominated by the ridges of the Panza Range and the Sierra Madre Mountains, where the Cuyama River cuts a deep valley along the border of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. This topographic study reveals a network of springs and small ranches, such as Avenales Ranch and Permasse Ranch, which supported life in this arid, mountainous interior. Landmarks like the Pine Canyon Guard Sta and Brookshire Camp Ground indicate the area's role in forest management and early recreation. The map provides a detailed view of the complex terrain between the Salinas River headwaters and the river valleys to the south.