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2012 Map of Mineral King

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Mineral King
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

The high alpine valley of Mineral King serves as the focal point for this 2012 survey, where the Mineral King Rd terminates among some of the highest peaks in the Sierra Nevada. The settlement at Aspen Flat and the Cold Spring Campground mark the few established human sites in a landscape dominated by dramatic vertical relief and glacial hydrology. This map records a dense concentration of named peaks including Empire Mountain, Sawtooth Peak, and Needham Mountain, along with specific geological anomalies like the Eagle Sinkhole.

Water plays a critical role in the topography here, with the E Fork Kaweah River collecting drainage from numerous high-altitude basins. Local history and recreation are reflected in the naming of prominent water features such as the Monarch Lakes, Franklin Lakes, and Big Five Lakes. Specialized landmarks like Tufa Falls and Soda Spring further differentiate the unique mineral-rich character of the canyon floor from the granite crests above.