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2021 Map of Tragedy Spring

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Tragedy Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

Tragedy Spring and the nearby Maiden's Grave offer a silent record of the difficult overland journeys through the High Sierra within the Eldorado National Forest. Situated along the Carson Emigrant National Recreation Trail, these landmarks highlight the precarious nature of travel during the mid-19th century westward migration. The landscape is defined by its series of high meadows and ridges, including Government Meadow, Convict Meadow, and Jake Schneider Meadow, which served as critical waypoint grazing for livestock on the trail.

The Silver Fork American River and its tributaries, such as Caples Cr and North Tragedy Creek, carve through deep canyons like Sherman Canyon and Bark Sharrly Canyon. These waterways and their surrounding flats, such as Forgotten Flat and Willow Flat, shaped the logistical routes used by both indigenous people and later pioneers. This modern survey captures the enduring geography of the El Dorado and Amador county line in a region where the names themselves—like Hells Delight Valley—reflect the arduous character of the terrain.