2015 Map of Paicines

About this map

The San Andreas Fault cuts a distinct northwest-southeast path through this section of San Benito County, marking the tectonic boundary between the Diablo Range to the east and the Gabilan Range to the southwest. This landscape is defined by its deep canyons and elevated peaks, including the prominent McPhails Peak and Swanson Bluff. Settlement is concentrated near the junction of Panoche Rd and Murphy Rd, where the community of Paicines sits adjacent to the Paicines Reservoir. The San Benito River and its various tributaries, such as Pescadero Cr and Tres Pinos Cr, drain the high country, following the natural troughs created by the complex fault systems. In the southern portion of the map, the boundary between San Benito and Monterey counties traverses high ridges near Swope Canyon and Matarana Gulch, highlighting the area's difficult topography and importance as a crossroads for early mountain passage via routes like the Old Airline Hwy.