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1955 Map of Mustang Peak

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Mustang Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Gill Ranch and the surrounding backcountry of the Diablo Range define this mid-century survey along the boundary of Stanislaus and Santa Clara counties. The landscape is characterized by complex drainage systems, including the South Fork Orestimba Creek and Garzas Creek, which cut through prominent elevations like Mustang Peak. This era of the territory is marked by isolation, where movement relied on a network of jeep trails and the steep Blue Hill Grade.

Remote livestock operations are evidenced by the numerous unnamed reservoirs and specific landmarks like Paradise Flat and Mustang Flat. Of particular interest to local historians is the Landing Strip near the northern border, suggesting the importance of aerial access to these high ranch lands. The map also documents numerous triangulation stations such as Orgas and Mac, illustrating the technical effort required to chart this folded terrain before modern development reached the interior canyons.