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2018 Map of Royal Gorge

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Royal Gorge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

Tahoe National Forest encompasses this high-altitude landscape of the Sierra Nevada, where the drainage of the North Fork American River carves deep through the Royal Gorge. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the French Meadows Reservoir, a significant water body situated near the expansive French Meadows. This terrain is defined by its ridge-and-canyon orientation, notably the Forest Hill Divide and the prominent Snow Mtn to the north.

Legacy trails and rugged access roads weave throughout the territory, including the historic Western States trail and the Tevis Cup route, which trace the high ridges and canyons such as Sailor Canyon and Little Duncan Canyon. These pathways suggest a history of long-distance transit and recreation through landform features like Red Star Ridge and Chalk Bluff. The map also captures several high-elevation meadows and flats, such as Sailor Meadow and Oak Flat, which have historically served as focal points in this otherwise steep environment.