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1978 Map of Fort Ross

Name: 1978 Topographic Map of Fort Ross
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The San Andreas Fault Zone slices dramatically through the coastal landscape of Sonoma County, defining the geology between the Pacific shore and the rising interior ridges. Along the immediate coast, Fort Ross State Historic Park and the adjacent Call Ranch sit perched above Fort Ross Cove, marking a site of early nineteenth-century Russian settlement. The terrain transitions quickly from the shore to high points like Table Mtn and Pole Mtn, where a network of ridge-top roads and fire trails connects isolated landmarks such as the Seaview Cem and the Laton Mine near the northern boundary.

Water systems define the inland drainages, with the Gualala River and the curiously named Hell Hole carving through the steep topography. Extensive ridge systems like King Ridge and Mohrhardt Ridge dominate the eastern half of the map, while the Black Mountain Conservation Camp occupies a clearing near the Middle Branch Russian Gulch. This 1978 edition provides a detailed look at the rural character of the region before significant modern development, preserving the locations of springs, gulches, and family-named canyons.