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1954 Map of San Gorgonio Mountain

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of San Gorgonio Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The San Bernardino National Forest encompasses a landscape of steep canyons and alpine retreats during the mid-1950s. The northern edge is dominated by the development around Big Bear Lake, including Moonridge and the Sugarloaf settlement, while the southern slopes descend toward the Mill Creek drainage. This survey captures a specific era of mountain recreation, evidenced by organized group sites like the Pasadena YMCA Camp and the Long Beach YMCA Camp near Deadmans Lake.

Lower-elevation communities such as Forest Falls and Fallsvale are clearly defined along the creek, complete with the Fallsvale Sch. The map also traces the industrial and utility infrastructure of the period, including the Mill Creek Mine and the Banning Powerhouse in the southern canyons. Between these points, the high country is accessible only via primitive routes like the Radford Truck Road and the Skyline Truck Road, which connect remote spots like Barton Flats and Seven Oaks Resort.