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1959 Map of Monument Peak

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Monument Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Vallecito Creek winds through a high-altitude desert and mountain landscape where the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park meets the Cleveland National Forest. The map captures a transition from the arid expanse of Vallecito Valley to the timbered heights of the Laguna Mountains. A history of transit and resource extraction is evident, from the historic Old Overland Stage Route following the valley floor to the mining prospects scattered across the ridges, such as the Sundown Mine and Noble Mine.

The presence of the Laguna Indian Reservation and several high-country camps, including the Sierra Club Guymon Lodge and Al Bahr Shrine Camp, suggests this area's long-standing role as a sanctuary and retreat. At the southern edge, the Laguna Recreation Area surrounds Big Laguna Lake and Little Laguna Lake, providing a clear look at the developed recreational footprint within the wilderness before the mid-1980s updates.