1955 Map of Rockbound Valley

About this map

Desolation Valley Wilderness Area defines the high-altitude landscape of El Dorado County shown here during a mid-century period of hydrologic study and recreational mapping. The headwaters of the Rubicon River dominate the drainage pattern, flowing through the central Rockbound Valley where the Rubicon Reservoir and Rockbound Lake manage the Sierra Nevada snowmelt. The presence of the Univ Calif Cow Camp and various established campsites like Camper Flat highlight the era's mix of traditional land use and growing wilderness tourism. The terrain is marked by dozens of alpine water bodies, including Lake Aloha, Lake Lois, and the 4-Q Lakes, all linked by a network of high-country routes such as the Red Peak Trail. Peaks like Silver Peak and Phipps Peak frame the valley, providing clear reference points for the 1969 photorevisions shown in purple.