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1957 Map of Prospect Peak

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Prospect Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The volcanic wilderness of northeastern California is laid bare in this late 1950s survey, dominated by the massive presence of Prospect Peak and the geological curiosities of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The landscape is a complex map of ancient activity, featuring the Fantastic Lava Beds, the Painted Dunes, and the sharp profile of Cinder Cone near the shores of Butte Lake. These features provide a stark backdrop to the human history of the region, specifically where the Emigrant Trail and Noble Emigrant Trail cross the terrain.

Lower elevations show the sparse but vital infrastructure of the era, including the Old Station post office and several remote outposts like Wilcox Ranch and Mountain Home. The survey also documents the Blacks Mtn Experimental Sta, indicating the region's importance for forestry research within the Lassen National Forest. Numerous public sites, such as the Twin Bridges Campground and Hat Creek Campground, reflect the post-war growth of recreation in this unique environment of caves and buttes.