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1981 Map of Mount Bigelow

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Mount Bigelow
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1995
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1995

About this map

Mining operations and high-altitude forest recreation define this section of the Santa Catalina Mountains during the early 1980s. The northern slopes are marked by numerous extraction sites, including the Geesaman Mine Group, Stratton Mine, and Leatherwood Mine Group, connected by a network of 4WD tracks through rugged canyons like Stratton Canyon and Geesaman Canyon.

The presence of an Observatory and Radio Towers atop Mount Bigelow signals the area's transition into a modern scientific and communications hub. Public use is centered around Soldier Camp and the Palisade Ranger Station, with several established campsites like Bear Wallow Campground serving travelers. The southern portion includes the protected Pusch Ridge Wilderness and the Butterfly Peak Natural Area, highlighting the conservation of the range's unique high-desert and montane ecosystems.