1886 Map of Modoc Lava Bed

About this map

Rhett Lake and the vast Modoc Lava Bed dominate this northern California landscape during the mid-1880s. The survey captures a region defined by its volcanic history and the recent memories of the Modoc War, explicitly marking the Modoc Rifle Pit near Bloody Point and Snake Island. To the south, the terrain transitions into the timbered ridges and river valleys of Siskiyou, Modoc, Shasta, and Lassen counties. Early settlements and ranching hubs like Bieber, Lookout, and Burgettsville are established along the Pit River and Ash Creek. Natural landmarks such as Ice Cave, Glass Mt, and Medicine Lake reveal the geologic character of the high country, while a Ferry crossing on the Pit River near Grizzly Peak provides a vital link for travelers through the remote Siskiyou wilderness during this era of early regional development.