1972 Map of Lake Isabella South

About this map

Lake Isabella and the settlement of Bodfish sit at the northern edge of this high-elevation terrain, where the Kern River flows into the Hot Spring Valley. The 1970s landscape is defined by the proximity of the Sequoia National Forest and a complex network of mining sites scattered throughout the canyons and ridges. Notable operations including the Tom Moore Mine, Glen Olive Mine, and Seventyfour Mine dot the slopes of Laura Peak and Bodfish Peak, pointing to a history of hard-rock extraction in the Erskine Creek and Bodfish Creek drainages. Evidence of early industry and habitation appears in the form of multiple ruins, including the Faust Mill and the Borel Flume, while Severn Hot Springs and Squirrel Mountain Valley suggest the area's development for both resource extraction and recreation.