1950 Map of Spring Garden

About this map

The Western Pacific railroad carves a winding path through the high Sierras on this 1950s-era survey, featuring the engineering feat of the Williams Loop near Spring Garden. This circular track allows the railway to gain elevation while managing the steep grades of the Plumas National Forest. The map documents a landscape of industrial transition, showing both the Johnson Mine (Inactive) and a Sawmill located along Greenhorn Creek. Settlements like Massack and Bradys Camp sit tucked into narrow valleys between prominent peaks like Grizzly Mtn and Argentine Rock. The map also delineates the boundaries of the Feather River Experimental Forest (PNF) and a State Game Refuge, illustrating the mid-century management of California's timber and wildlife resources in the Sierra Nevada range.