2021 Map of Indian Gulch

About this map

Indian Gulch remains the central focus of this landscape along the border of Mariposa and Merced counties. The terrain is defined by a series of prominent peaks and drainage systems, including Quartz Mtn to the north and Indian Peak rising above the local gulches. The historical footprint of early families is evident through sites like the Givins Cem and Santa Cruz Cem, while the road network preserves the era of early commerce with the Old Toll Rd stretching toward Shanghai Ridge. Water resources are scattered across the land in the form of named catchments such as Cathey Pond and Giles Pond, which supported the livestock and small-scale operations of this rural interior. The map clearly illustrates the transition from the high points of Three Buttes and Santa Cruz Mtn down into the winding beds of Bear Cr and Owens Cr.