1995 Map of Chews Ridge

About this map

Mira Observatory stands prominently atop the high ridges of the Santa Lucia Range, marking a landscape of significant elevation changes and deep drainage basins. This mid-1990s revision of the Chew's Ridge area shows a complex network of private ranches and public lands, where the Ventana Wilderness meets the Los Padres National Forest. The settlement pattern is defined by isolated holdings like Rancho Palo Escrito, Cahoon Ranch, and the Mascorini Place, many accessible only by rugged routes like Tassajara Road or the Miller Canyon Trail. The geography is carved by steep watercourses such as Tassajara Creek and Arroyo Seco, reflecting an era where high-altitude scientific observation and traditional ranching coexisted within protected federal lands.