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1962 Map of Snake Lake

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Snake Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Surprise Valley and the high elevations of the South Warner Wilderness dominate this corner of the California-Nevada borderlands. The landscape transitions sharply from the rugged terrain of the Modoc National Forest, marked by peaks like Hat Mountain, down to the alkaline flats of Lower Lake. Water management is central to the area's geography, evidenced by the Sworinger Reservoir and its spillway, alongside natural features like Snake Lake and numerous canyon-side springs.

Remote ranching and land use are etched into the map through the presence of Bare Ranch and a network of jeep trails and high-country routes. The map records several drainage systems, including Barber Creek and Silver Creek, which descend from the Warner Mountains toward the valley floor. The boundary between Modoc and Lassen counties is precisely delineated as it cuts through the mountains, reflecting the administrative and geographic complexity of this northeastern California region.