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1956 Map of Tuolumne Meadows

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Tuolumne Meadows
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Tuolumne Meadows serves as the central hub of high-altitude activity in this 1950s survey of the High Sierra. The map details a network of high-country outposts including Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp, May Lake High Sierra Camp, and Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, illustrating the established hiking and pack-train culture of the era. Settlement footprints are sparse, represented by the Parsons Memorial Lodge and the high-elevation site of Bennettville near the park's eastern boundary.

Evidence of the region's mining history persists at the Great Sierra Mine and Fantail Mine, while the central Tuolumne River and Tioga Road provide the primary corridors for exploration. The landscape is defined by iconic granite landmarks such as Cathedral Peak, Clouds Rest, and Fairview Dome. Alpine water bodies like Tenaya Lake and Rodgers Lake are mapped alongside a complex system of creeks that feed the watershed, reflecting the area's role in California's water resource management during the mid-20th century.