1951 Map of Pilot Creek

About this map

Ackley Ranch (Site of Fort Baker) sits along the southern reach of the Mad River, providing a significant historical marker in this section of the Six Rivers National Forest. This 1951 survey reveals a landscape of high ridges and deep drainages at the border of Humboldt and Trinity counties, where seasonal mountain life is marked by the presence of Cold Springs Lookout and remote dwellings like the Dan East Cabin and Ridge Cabin. The terrain is defined by massive formations such as Showers Mtn and Blake Mtn, which overlook the complex network of creeks feeding the South Fork Trinity River. Evidence of early stock raising and travel is found in the scattered Torrey Corrals, Deer Creek Ranch, and the Eightmile Trail winding through Soldiers Grove. This map preserves the mid-century layout of these public lands before modern fire management and road development altered the access patterns of the northern California back-country.