2018 Map of Surprise Station

About this map

N Fork Pit River flows through the heart of this Modoc County landscape, shaping a valley floor that supports a network of ranching roads and remote outposts. The settlement of Surprise Station sits centrally as a waypoint in this high-desert terrain, where the Modoc National Forest boundary meets private holdings. Traces of the region's overland history are evident in the Old Imigrant Trl, which skirts the western edge of the quadrangle near the Griener Reservoir. The hydrology of the area is further defined by seasonal drainages and springs, such as Leonard Spring and Gleason Cr, which are essential to the local ecosystem. From the heights of Round Mtn to the southern waters of Porter Reservoir, the map illustrates a landscape of managed forests and traditional cattle ranching operations common to the far northern reaches of California.