1988 Map of Mineral King

About this map

The high alpine valley of Mineral King serves as the focal point for this 1980s survey, illustrating the area's transition from a nineteenth-century mining hub to a protected wilderness within Sequoia National Park. Evidence of the district’s silver and gold prospecting history is scattered across the high ridges, including the Empire Mine, Lady Franklin Mine, and the White Chief Mine. The map specifically identifies several industrial remnants such as the Empire Mill (Ruins) and Crabtree Cabin (Ruins), providing a detailed spatial record of former human activity in these remote elevations. The terrain is dominated by the Great Western Divide, with drainage flowing through the East Fork Kaweah River. Dozens of high-altitude lakes, from the Monarch Lakes to the Franklin Lakes, are positioned along steep passes like Sawtooth Pass and Farewell Gap, which connect the valley to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Forest.