1956 Map of Copper Mtn

About this map

The Naval Bombing Range occupies a central swath of this landscape in the Diablo Range of Stanislaus County, California. This mid-century survey reveals a transition in land use where mid-elevation ranching and remote mining operations met military training needs. The terrain is defined by a complex network of seasonal drainages, including Del Puerto Creek, Adobe Creek, and Salado Creek, which are supported by isolated water sources such as Salt Grass Springs and Fellows Spr. Evidence of early industrial activity persists at the Adobe Mine and several unnamed prospects scattered through Washington Canyon and Slick Rock Canyon. Long-standing agricultural footprints are visible at the Oak Flats Ranch and the Gerber Ranch (Site), connected by a sparse network of dirt roads and a Jeep Trail. Notable landmarks like Copper Mtn and the evocatively named Murderers Gulch provide a window into the local nomenclature of this rugged interior territory.