Loading map...

2012 Map of Tar Spring Ridge

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Tar Spring Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

Tar Spring Ridge and the deep drainage of Lopez Canyon define this portion of the Santa Lucia Range, where the reservoir of Lopez Lake captures the flow of Vasquez Cr and Wittenberg Cr. The landscape is marked by isolated rural outposts such as Camp Talaki and Ranchita Ranch, reflecting a long-standing pattern of canyon-bottom settlement and upland ranching. This 2012 survey illustrates a complex network of forest and ranch roads, including Upper Lopez Canyon Rd and Hi Mountain Rd, that follow the natural contours of the ridges and creek beds.

Water remains the primary architect of the terrain here, from the branching arms of the lake to the seasonal flows in Clapboard Canyon and Long Canyon. In the southern reaches, family-named landmarks like Tar Spring Ranch and Park Ranch sit near the transition to Washington Flat, while the remote northern elevations are punctuated by peaks like Big Baldy and the curious geographical feature of Huffs Hole.