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1988 Map of Kern Peak

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Kern Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1994
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1994

About this map

Kern Peak serves as the focal point for this survey of the high Sierras, rising within the Toowah Range and overlooking a complex network of glacial meadows and alpine watercourses. The landscape is dominated by the hydrology of Golden Trout Creek and the South Fork Kern River, which meanders through Ramshaw Meadows along the eastern boundary. This high-altitude drainage system is punctuated by unique geological formations, including the Natural Bridge near Malpais and the volcanic character of Volcano Meadow.

Human presence is marked primarily by trails and primitive crossings like Saddle Camp Pass and Right Stringer Pass, which connect isolated basins such as Chinquapin Basin. The survey captures the protected wilderness status of the area, showing the Golden Trout Wilderness within the Inyo National Forest. Features like Tunnel Meadow and the aptly named Hells Hole indicate the varying accessibility and terrain of this subalpine environment before the turn of the millennium.