2015 Map of Pacific Valley

About this map

Toiyabe National Forest, Eldorado National Forest, and Stanislaus National Forest converge here, marking a significant high-altitude hydrologic divide. The N Fork Mokelumne River and the N Fork Stanislaus River originate in this alpine landscape, where steep canyons like Jackass Canyon and Jackson Canyon transition into high meadows. The presence of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail underscores the region's importance for long-distance travel through the Sierra Nevada. High-elevation valleys including Pacific Valley, Hermit Valley, and Clover Valley provide flat, seasonally wet terrain amidst the peaks. These meadows, such as Stanislaus Meadow and Cliff Meadow, historically served as vital waypoints and grazing lands. A dense network of alpine lakes, including Mosquito Lake, Wheeler Lake, and Tamarack Lake, feeds the headwaters of the major river systems descending toward the Central Valley.