2021 Map of Salisbury Potrero

About this map

The Sierra Madre Mountains form the backbone of this backcountry landscape, a territory defined by high-elevation plateaus known locally as potreros. Throughout Los Padres National Forest, these open grasslands like Salisbury Potrero and Montgomery Potrero provided critical grazing and stopover points in a region dominated by sharp relief and seasonal washes. The drainage network is complex, featuring the upper reaches of Lion Canyon and Salisbury Canyon, while the southern edge of the map is defined by the Sisquoc Wild and Scenic River. This survey captures the connectivity of the high country via the Sierra Madre Rd and primitive paths like the Bull Ridge Trl. Scattered water sources, including Cherry Orchard Spring and Aguadulce Spring, suggest the historical reliance on specific perennial points for survival in the arid high-country terrain.