1935 Map of Trail Canyon

About this map

The San Gabriel Mountains dominate this 1935 advance sheet, a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes and the early infrastructure of the Los Angeles National Forest. Surveyed by C. P. McKinley, the map documents a complex network of fire protection and accessibility, marked by numerous Firebreak lines and Trail routes that crisscross the steep terrain. Water sources are critical points of interest in this environment, from the Yerba Buena Spring and Big Cienega to the deep cuts of Pacoima Canyon and Bear Canyon. High points like Condor Peak and Iron Mtn provide the primary landmarks for navigation through the northern Los Angeles County backcountry before modern development pushed further into these interior canyons. The detailed contour work illustrates the natural drainage patterns toward Tujunga and the Santa Clara region.