1940 Map of Mt. Emma

About this map

San Gabriel Mountains topography defines this portion of the Angeles National Forest, where high peaks and deep canyons dictated the early routes of travel and settlement. Surveyed in the mid-1930s, the map documents the Little Rock Palmdale Dam holding back the waters of Little Rock Creek in the northeast. The presence of a CCC Camp near the reservoir reflects the era's public works projects within the forest. Travel through this vertical landscape is traced by the Angeles Forest Highway and a prominent Transmission Line, while localized landmarks like the Wagonwheel Ranch and Kentucky Springs Canyon indicate pockets of habitation and water resources. The terrain transitions from the heights of Mt Emma down through complex drainage systems like Santiago Canyon and Aliso Canyon, providing a detailed look at the wilderness character of Los Angeles County before late-century development.