2015 Map of Michigan Bluff

About this map

Michigan Bluff and Byrds Valley stand on the high ridges of the Sierra Nevada, overlooking a landscape defined by gold-era history and deep river canyons. The North Fork of Middle Fork American River carves through the southern portion of the sheet, where numerous gravel bars like Stoney Bar, Alabama Bar, and Oxbow Bar reflect the area's rich mining heritage. The map documents an intricate network of water management and transport, featuring the Breece-and-Wheeler-Ditch winding across the Forest Hill Divide. Positioned between the Tahoe National Forest and Eldorado National Forest, the terrain is marked by distinctive landmarks such as Bogus Thunder, Devils Thumb, and the isolated settlement of Last Chance. These labels preserve the nomenclature of 19th-century prospectors and early forest rangers in Placer County.