1967 Map of Elk Mountain

About this map

Mendocino National Forest defines this landscape of the inner Coast Ranges, where the boundary between Mendocino and Lake counties follows the high ridgelines. The terrain is a complex network of canyons and peaks, with Elk Mountain and Horse Mountain serving as major landmarks. A historical industrial footprint is evident at the Prather Mill (Site) and Howard Mill Station, suggesting the importance of timber or early settlement infrastructure in these remote elevations. Water is a constant theme in this otherwise dry environment, from the headwaters of the Middle Fork Eel River to the numerous developed water sources like Lane Pine Water Trough and White Pebble Spring. This 1967 survey, field-checked and later photoinspected, captures a moment when the forest service infrastructure, including the Elk Mtn Station, was essential for managing this vast watershed of the Eel River and Middle Creek systems.