1979 Map of Portola

About this map

The Middle Fork Feather River carves a path through the heart of this High Sierra landscape, anchoring a network of timber and rail towns at the end of the 1970s. This survey captures the region just as recreational water bodies like Lake Davis and Frenchman Lake had become established fixtures within the Plumas National Forest. The map documents a critical transportation corridor where the Western Pacific RR follows the river canyons to serve settlements like Portola, Sloat, and Cromberg. To the south, the expansive Sierra Valley provides a stark topographical contrast, hosting the agricultural hubs of Loyalton and Sierraville. The inclusion of the historic gold-country county seats of Quincy and Downieville on a single sheet highlights the distinct transition from the narrow, steep-walled canyons of the west to the high-altitude basins and the Diamond Mountains in the east.