1949 Map of Burro Mountain

About this map

Lucia Range peaks define this coastal stretch of Central California, where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. This landscape is marked by the interface of the Los Padres National Forest and the northern reaches of the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation, an area that remained largely undeveloped mid-century save for forest management and mining interests. Along the jagged shoreline, Ragged Point serves as a prominent landmark for travelers, while inland, the topography rises sharply to summits like Burro Mountain and Mount Mars. The presence of the Polar Star Mine (Abandoned) near the Monterey and San Luis Obispo county line suggests the area's history of mineral exploration, while the Salmon Creek Ranger Sta and a high-elevation Lookout Tower reflect the critical role of fire watch in these dense forest lands during the post-war era.