1953 Map of Marion Peak

About this map

Kings Canyon National Park dominates this high-altitude landscape as it was surveyed in the early 1950s. The geography is defined by the dramatic confluence of the Middle Fork Kings River and South Fork Kings River, where deep canyons give way to granite summits like Marion Peak and State Peak. Settlement is minimal, focused on the riverside at Cedar Grove and the historical location of Kanawyers, while the rest of the terrain remains accessible only via a network of primitive routes. Footpaths and the famous Muir Trail provide the only passage through remote areas such as the Gorge of Despair and over Granite Pass. The map details a complex alpine environment of glacial origin, featuring numerous high-country water bodies including Lake Basin, State Lakes, and the Horseshoe Lakes. These features, along with meadowlands like Zumwalt Meadows, illustrate a protected wilderness before more modern visitor infrastructure was established.