1979 Map of Donnell Lake

About this map

Donnell Lake and the Middle Fork Stanislaus River dominate this high-elevation landscape within the Stanislaus National Forest. In the late 1970s, the area reflects a balance of water management and traditional mountain land use, featuring the Intake Portal and the Herring Creek Reservoir. Seasonal settlements and legacy ranching sites like Wheats Cow Camp and Wagner dot the terrain, while numerous natural meadows such as Montgomery Meadow and Wheats Meadow suggest the region's history as grazing land. Notable geologic landmarks, including Dome Rock and the Dardanelles, flank the river canyon. The map also records the primitive infrastructure of the era, from the winding Pack Trail systems to specific viewing areas like Donnell Vista Point, providing a record of the Sierra Nevada before modern backcountry developments altered these high-country access points.