2000 Map of Royal Gorge

About this map

North Fork American River carves a deep path through this Placer County landscape, defining the boundaries of the Royal Gorge Wild Area within the Tahoe National Forest. The map documents a transition in land use, from the industrial legacy of the Walker Mine, Lost Emigrant Mine, and Placer Queen Mine to the modern utility of the French Meadows Reservoir and its associated Diversion Dam. High-elevation landmarks such as Snow Mountain and Sunflower Hill overlook a network of backcountry routes, including the Western States Trail and Truckee Foresthill Road. The presence of several group campsites like Black Bear (Group) and the Handy Camp (Site) reflects the area's development as a managed recreational resource at the turn of the millennium.