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1969 Map of Mariposa Peak

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Mariposa Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Mariposa Peak rises as a central landmark in this 1969 field-checked survey, marking the intersection of Santa Clara, Merced, and San Benito counties. The landscape is characterized by a dense network of canyons and high ridges, including Peckham Ridge and the heights of Cathedral Peak. Historic resource extraction is evident through several named sites such as the Mariposa Mine, Ambrose Mine, and Stayton Mine, which are scattered throughout the rugged terrain. These features, along with several unnamed mines, suggest a legacy of prospecting in the hills north of Arroyo de las Viboras.

To the northeast, the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area touches the map's boundary near San Luis Creek, while the southern reaches are dominated by the Santa Ana y Quien Sabe land grant area. Ranching life is represented by the French Ranch and Pfeiffer Ranch, connected to the wider region by a system of primitive routes like Frenchs Pass and numerous jeep trails. This survey provides a clear view of the area's transition from a mining-focused past to a landscape of protected recreation and livestock grazing.