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1948 Map of Buckhorn Peak

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Buckhorn Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Mining operations and forest service outposts define this 1948 topographic study of the Sierra Nevada foothills. The rugged landscape, much of it within the Stanislaus National Forest, is marked by a dense concentration of quartz and gold extraction sites, including the Bondurant Mine, Marble Spring Mine, and the Red Cloud Mine near Monotti Hill. The presence of the McDiermid Guard Sta and several named flats like Date Flat suggests a landscape managed for both timber and mineral wealth during the post-war years.

Transportation through this difficult terrain relied on primary routes such as Dogtown Road and the Ponderosa Way, which follow the natural contours of ridges like Bandarita Ridge. Water sources, critical for both mining and firefighting, are meticulously noted, ranging from the North Fork Merced River to smaller drainages like Indian Gulch and Solomon Gulch. Natural landmarks, such as Bower Cave and Jackass Mountain, provide essential navigational points in an area defined by steep elevation changes and narrow gulches.