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1996 Map of Laurel

Name: 1996 Topographic Map of Laurel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2000
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2000

About this map

The San Andreas Rift Zone cuts through the steep topography of the Santa Cruz Mts, defining the rugged landscape between the Santa Cruz and Santa Clara county lines. This 1990s survey illustrates a region defined by scattered mountain communities like Laurel, Skyland, and Glenwood, many of which were historically linked by the Southern Pacific Railroad and its subterranean tunnel. The presence of the Glenwood Marker indicates the deep local roots of these settlements.

Institutional and recreational retreats are prominent throughout the canyons, including the St Clare Retreat, Kennolyn Camp, and the Happy Valley Conference Ground near De Laveaga Park. Water resources are central to the area's development, evidenced by the Lake Elsman spillway and Williams Reservoir in the north, while the southern slopes drain through numerous steep gulches such as Blackburn Gulch and Moores Gulch.