1956 Map of Lopez Point

About this map

The Big Sur coastline south of Monterey presents a landscape of extreme verticality, dominated by the Los Padres National Forest and the precipitous slopes of Mining Ridge. In the mid-1950s, the isolated settlement of Lucia and the nearby Rockland Landing (Aban'd) served as small nodes of human activity along a shoreline punctuated by prominent landmarks like Lopez Point and Gamboa Point. The presence of the Otter Game Refuge and John Little State Park highlights the early emphasis on conservation in this region, where steep canyons like Devils Canyon and deep drainages such as Lime Creek and Vicente Creek limited inland development. This survey documents a period when access to the interior was largely dependent on a network of primitive routes, including the Jeep Trail and numerous foot trails leading to backcountry sites like Lower Bee Camp and Trail Spring Camp.