1962 Map of Haystack Mtn.

About this map

The rugged Merced County foothills meet the Mariposa County line in this early 1960s study of the Haystack Mtn vicinity. The landscape is defined by its water management and livestock history, centered on the Burns Creek Dam and its drainage through the cattle-grazing lands of the La Paloma Ranch and Walts Ranch. Evidence of the region’s hydraulic and mining history is found in the extensive Tailings along Burns Creek, while unique geological landmarks like China Hat and Courthouse Rock serve as distinctive navigational beacons across the rangeland. The presence of several named springs and wells, such as the Upper Well and Lower Well, underscores the critical importance of water access for these remote ranching operations during the mid-century era.