1959 Map of Valyermo

About this map

St Andrews Priory sits at the northern base of the high peaks, marking a transition between the arid Antelope Valley and the dense forests of the Angelles National Forest. This 1950s survey captures the era when the Crystal Lake Recreation Area and its surrounding Crystal Lake Country Club were primary mountain retreats for Southern California. The map details a landscape defined by significant elevation changes, from the alluvial fans of Valyermo and Juniper Hills to the nearly 10,000-foot summit of Mt Baden-Powell. Evidence of early industrial and agricultural activity is preserved through labels for the Bobs Gap Limekiln and various homesteads like McFarland Ranch and Mile High Ranch. The complex drainage patterns of Big Rock Creek and the San Gabriel River highlight the vital water sources that shaped settlement along the desert's edge.