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1962 Map of Haystack Mtn.

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Haystack Mtn.
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The rolling hills along the border of Mariposa and Merced counties define this 1962 landscape, where the Sierra Nevada foothills meet the valley floor. Dominant geological landmarks like Haystack Mtn and the distinctively named China Hat provide natural orientation across a terrain marked by ephemeral drainage systems including Stoney Creek and Black Rascal Creek. This era of ranching and early water management is evidenced by the presence of La Paloma Ranch and the Burns Creek Dam, which includes a Gaging Sta for monitoring local flows.

Evidence of resource extraction is scattered throughout the eastern gulches, with Tailings and a Quarry noted near Toledo Gulch and Greaser Gulch. The road network, including the Merced Falls Road and Hornitos Road, follows the natural contours of the land, connecting remote outposts like Waltz Ranch to the larger regional centers. These features together illustrate a transitional landscape between the industrial tailings of the gold country and the managed ranch lands of the Central Valley.