Loading map...

1950 Map of Colfax

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Colfax
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Gold Rush history and mountain transit routes dominate this mid-century survey of the Sierra Nevada foothills. The Southern Pacific railroad snakes through the landscape, serving long-established mining towns and small rural settlements like Colfax, Gold Run, and Dutch Flat. The map reveals a region still deeply tied to its extraction roots, marking numerous active and historical sites such as the Empire Mine, Lava Cap Mine, and the Dutch Flat Diggings. Geologic and historical markers are abundant, including several Donner Trail Marker locations that trace the path of early emigrant travel.

The verticality of the terrain is defined by the deep canyons of the North Fork American River and the Middle Fork American River, with features like Giant Gap and Lovers Leap highlighting the dramatic relief. High-country water management is evident through a network of canals and powerhouses, including the Dutch Flat Powerhouse and Alta Powerhouse. Settlements such as Yankee Jims and Iowa Hill sit perched above the river forks, while the Tahoe National Forest boundary marks the transition into more densely wooded mountain territory.