1959 Map of Lake Cachuma

About this map

Lake Cachuma dominates the center of this Santa Barbara County landscape, its intricate shoreline forming Cachuma Bay and Santa Cruz Bay. Created by the Cachuma Dam along the Santa Ynez River, the reservoir is surrounded by the public grounds of the Cachuma County Park and the Santa Cruz Recreation Area. The terrain rises sharply to the south into the Santa Ynez Mountains, where prominent summits like Santa Ynez Peak and Broadcast Peak overlook the Los Padres National Forest. Cultural features are concentrated along the northern and western shores, including the settlement of Cachuma Village and the Rancho San Fernando Rey. The map tracks the winding path of the San Marcos Pass Road as it skirts the water, while the high-altitude Camino Cielo follows the mountain ridgeline, illustrating the transition from recreational waterfront to wilderness.