2018 Map of Panoche Pass

About this map

Panoche Pass serves as a critical point of passage through the high-elevation terrain of the Diablo Range in San Benito County. This 2018 survey reveals a landscape defined by sharp ridges and sheltered valleys, where watercourses like Tres Pinos Cr and Las Aguilas Creek have carved distinct drainage patterns through the earth. The area is characterized by scattered flats and valleys, including Lankford Flat, Slacks Valley, and Los Muertos Valley, which suggest the historic and contemporary use of this land for ranching and transit. The presence of Mc Creery Ranch Rd and Panoche Rd indicates how the geography dictated early road placement, following the natural contours of Chemise Ridge and the Call Mountains to connect remote high-country outposts.