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1955 Map of Castle Rock Ridge

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Castle Rock Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Santa Cruz Mountains peaks and steep canyons dominate this mid-century topographic record, centering on the high ridges where Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties meet. The survey reveals a landscape of remote mountain schools and youth camps, including Montezuma School, Central Sch, and the Redwood Camp near Kings Creek. Near the northern edge, Skyline Blvd and Summit Road trace the crest near Mount Bielawski, while the San Andreas Rift Zone creates a distinctive linear valley containing Lake Ranch Reservoir.

Alma College sits east of Lexington Res in an area of dense canyon drainage. The southwestern corner shows the early development of Boulder Creek, where the terrain begins to level out along the banks of Zayante Creek. This map captures the region's character as a retreat for educational and scouting institutions before the intensified development of the later 20th century, marking landmarks like Uncle Billys Cabin and the dramatic Castle Rock Falls.