Loading map...

2012 Map of Piedras Blancas

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Piedras Blancas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

The Piedras Blancas Lighthouse stands as the primary maritime landmark along this stretch of the San Luis Obispo County coast, marking the transition from the Pacific Ocean to the rising terrain of the Santa Lucia Range. The landscape is defined by a series of dramatic offshore features and coastal points, including Point Piedras Blancas, the massive La Cruz Rock, and the distinctive Harlech Castle Rock. Further north, Point Sierra Nevada and Breaker Point continue the pattern of a complex, rocky shoreline.

Moving inland, the topography is carved by numerous seasonal drainages, or arroyos, that flow from the highlands toward the sea. Notable waterways like Arroyo Del Corral and Arroyo De La Laguna cut through the coastal terrace, while the elevation culminates at Pine Top Mountain in the northeast. This 2012 survey illustrates the sparse development of this protected coastal corridor, dominated by natural landforms and the historic navigation station.