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1950 Map of Saddle Mountain

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Saddle Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Eldorado National Forest defines the topography of this mid-century survey, where the deep drainages of the North Fork American River and South Fork American River carve through the Sierra Nevada foothills. The landscape is a complex network of resource extraction and early mountain settlement, visible in the numerous mining operations such as the Kenna Mine and Pigeon Roost Mine. Evidence of early hydraulic engineering is everywhere, with a labyrinth of ditches, flumes, and pipelines feeding locations like the Surge Tank and various gaging stations.

Settlement patterns reveal small, isolated mountain communities and work camps, including Quintette, Pollock Pines, and Iowa Hill. The map also captures specific historical sites such as the Bullion Bend Historic Marker and the Mosquito District School, while the presence of several logging camps like Camp Five and Camp Ten indicates the active timber industry of the 1950s. High points such as Devil Peak and Saddle Mtn overlook a terrain transitioning from ranching at Bacchi Ranch to federal management at the Blodgett Experimental Forest.