1959 Map of Pacifico Mountain

About this map

Pacifico Mountain dominates this mid-century topographic profile of the high country, where the steep canyons of the Angeles National Forest meet early transport corridors. The map documents the northern edge of the San Gabriel Mountains, highlighting the Southern Pacific railroad line winding through Soledad Pass near the settlement of Vincent. This area shows a transition from high-altitude forest to ranching and mining, with Niles Ranch, Montgomery Ranch, and Wagonwheel Ranch marking the lower drainage basins like Aliso Canyon. Significant water infrastructure of the era is evident at the Little Rock Reservoir and the Little Rock-Palmdale Dam, which captured mountain runoff for the growing communities in the valley below. The presence of the Gold Queen Mine and the Tie Summit Station illustrates the remote industrial and logistical nodes that once operated deep within the mountains long before modern recreation became the primary use of the Santiago Canyon backcountry.