1953 Map of Vail Lake

About this map

Vail Lake sits at the northern edge of this landscape, its waters controlled by a spillway where Temecula Creek exits. This 1953 survey, updated with 1980s data, illustrates the transition from the arid valleys of Butterfield Valley and Lancaster Valley into the high, protected reaches of the Cleveland National Forest. The map documents a sparse but significant human footprint, from the Crosley Homestead and Crosley Saddle to the Radec Cem and Cottonwood School.