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1950 Map of Chilcoot

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Chilcoot
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

Beckwourth Pass serves as the focal point of this 1950s terrain study, marking the lowest passage through the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Western Pacific railroad winds through this gap, connecting the high desert of the Honey Lake Valley to the east with the upper reaches of the Middle Fork Feather River. Small rail-oriented settlements like Chilcoot and Vinton anchor the valley floor, while the surrounding landscape is dominated by the high peaks of the Plumas National Forest.

Notable for local history researchers, the map identifies specific rural landmarks such as the Summit Sch and a local Cem, alongside the curiously named Hallelujah Junction at the state line. The drainage patterns of Little Last Chance Creek and Long Valley Creek define the ranching and timber geography of the era, providing a clear look at the infrastructure of Plumas and Lassen counties before modern highway expansions.