1969 Map of Smith Mountain

About this map

The San Andreas Rift Zone bisects this section of the California Coast Ranges, creating a complex geography where the boundaries of Fresno and Monterey counties converge. This interior landscape is defined by the canyon systems of Warthan Creek and Jacalitos Creek, which cut through the high ground of Smith Mountain and the distinct formations of The Pinnacles. Evidence of early 20th-century resource extraction and remote settlement appears through the Stone Canyon Mine and the quiet presence of Warthan Cem. Transportation in the late 1960s was limited to the Coalinga Mineral Springs Road and various rugged tracks, including a Jeep Trail winding through Slack Canyon. The map identifies small localities such as Wayland and Nelson, alongside various water sources like Sulphur Spring and Eric Spring that were vital to this arid terrain.