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1954 Map of The Whaleback

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of The Whaleback
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Grass Lake and the high peaks of the eastern Klamath range dominate this mid-century survey of Siskiyou County. The landscape is defined by its industrial timber and transit infrastructure, where the Southern Pacific railroad parallels the main highway through the valley floor. Small outposts and labor sites like Penoyar, Leaf Camp, and the Hoffman Mill (Site) reflect the era's reliance on rail for moving timber from the surrounding Klamath National Forest.

Elevations rise sharply to prominent landmarks such as The Whaleback, Goosenest, and Deer Mtn, which provided strategic vantage points for fire management, evidenced by the Herd Peak Lookout. Water sources are scattered across the volcanic terrain, from the Pumpkinseed Lake in the north to numerous isolated springs like Shingle Sprs and Trapper Spr that supported local ranching operations like the Soule Ranch.