Loading map...

1979 Map of Carson Pass

Name: 1979 Topographic Map of Carson Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

Carson Pass stands as a high-altitude waypoint in the Sierra Nevada, documented here during the late 1970s. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of the West Fork Carson River and several alpine basins, including Red Lake and Upper Blue Lake. This area was a critical artery for early migration and mail delivery, evidenced by landmarks like the Kit Carson Historical Monuments and a memorial to Snowshoe Thompson.

Evidence of historical resource extraction is visible through scattered operations such as the Alpine Mine, Burnside Mine, and Cal-Pine Mine. The map also traces the Pacific Crest Nat Scenic Trail as it winds past prominent peaks like Stevens Peak and The Nipple. These features, alongside seasonal campsites like Hope Valley Campground, illustrate the 20th-century transition of the Toiyabe National Forest from a mining frontier to a destination for high-country recreation.