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2022 Map of Royal Gorge

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Royal Gorge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

The North Fork American Wild and Scenic River carves a deep path through the granite landscape, anchored by the dramatic Royal Gorge. This section of the Sierra Nevada is characterized by high ridges like the Forest Hill Divide and Red Star Ridge that separate significant drainages, including Duncan Canyon and Sailor Canyon. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the French Meadows Reservoir, a mid-century water storage project that reshaped the area around the original French Meadows settlement.

Legacy transportation routes are a prominent feature of this terrain, with the historic Western States Trail and the Tevis Cup Trail traversing the ridgelines. These paths, along with the Soda Springs Trail, follow the natural topography used by early travelers across the Tahoe National Forest. The map also identifies remote landmarks such as Snow Mountain, Chalk Bluff, and Heath Spring, providing a detailed look at the hydrology and landforms of Placer County.