1939 Map of Palomar Mountain

About this map

Palomar Mountain and its famous Observatory anchor this survey of the high country along the Riverside County and San Diego County line. The terrain is defined by a series of isolated valleys and steep grades, including the Nate Harrison Grade and the Crosley Truck Trail, which provided critical access to these uplands during the late 1930s. The map illustrates a complex pattern of land use, where the Cleveland National Forest borders numerous tribal lands such as the La Jolla Indian Reservation and the Pauma Indian Res. Small settlements and ranching outposts like Radec, Friendly Ranch, and Grammer Ranch are scattered throughout the mountain meadows. In the lower elevations, the San Luis Rey River flows toward the southwest, while the eastern edge of the map shows the waters of Lake Henshaw tucked into the valley below Aguanga Mountain.