1953 Map of Royal Gorge

About this map

Royal Gorge serves as the dramatic center of this mid-century topographic study, where the North Fork American River carves deeply through the Sierra Nevada within the Tahoe National Forest. The landscape is a network of steep canyons and high ridges, including Snow Mountain and Sunflower Hill. The region's mining heritage is evident through numerous scattered sites such as the Lost Emigrant Mine, Placer Queen Mine, and Walker Mine. Evidence of early recreation and seasonal habitation appears at Gates Cabin and Handy Camp along the river forks. This edition includes purple photogrammetric revisions from 1973, showing the development of the French Meadows Reservoir on the Middle Fork American River, reflecting the era's significant water management changes in the high country.