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1956 Map of Lake Arrowhead

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Lake Arrowhead
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Lake Arrowhead and the surrounding heights of the San Bernardino National Forest form the centerpiece of this mid-century landscape. To the north, the terrain drops dramatically from the timbered slopes into the high desert of Fifteenmile Valley and the Granite Mountains. This era shows a distinctive transition between the growing resort communities near Cedar Glen and the sprawling ranching operations of the desert floor, including Tussing Ranch and Circle M Ranch.

Industry and recreation intersect throughout the mountains, with landmarks like the Liberty Mine and several prospects scattered near Grapevine Canyon. Traces of the region's transport history are visible in the Big Bear Cutoff and the Atchison Topeka And Santa Fe railroad line cutting through the northern valley. Remote outposts such as Lone Wolf Colony and family-named landmarks like Squints Ranch and Hawes Ranch offer a detailed look at the local-history fabric of the San Bernardino mountains before more modern development reached these higher elevations.