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1951 Map of Pike

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Pike
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Gold-bearing ridges and the deep canyons of the Middle Yuba River dominate this 1951 study of the northern Mother Lode country. The landscape is a map of industrial history, prominently featuring the Matakoff Diggings and numerous historical mining sites such as the Alaska Mine (Site), True Grit Mine (Site), and the Kate Hardy Mine. These operations follow the distinct geological formations of Chalk Ridge and the San Juan Ridge, where hydraulic mining and hard-rock tunneling once defined the local economy.

Remote settlements and family operations like Clerkins Ranch, Gales Orchard, and Miller Ranch (Site) are scattered among the timber of the Tahoe National Forest. The map captures the Sierra Nevada and Nevada County line as it crosses the river, preserving the locations of vanished waypoints like Nigger Tent (Site) and the Old Mtn House (Site), which once served travelers and prospectors moving between Pike and North Columbia.