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2015 Map of Ventana Cones

Name: 2015 Topographic Map of Ventana Cones
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2015
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2015

About this map

The Santa Lucia Range dominates this portion of the Los Padres National Forest, where steep ridgelines and deep canyons define the Central Coast wilderness. The topography is anchored by the prominent peaks of Ventana Double Cone, Ventana Cone, and South Ventana Cone, which overlook a complex drainage system. This area serves as a critical headwater region, where the Carmel River and its tributary, the Miller Fork Carmel River, flow northward while the Little Sur River and the Big Sur River carve westward paths toward the Pacific.

Tracing the waterways reveals numerous landmarks such as Blue Falls and Sulphur Spring, alongside remote basins like Bear Basin. The lack of road infrastructure highlights the primitive nature of this landscape, where place names such as Elephant Mtn, Uncle Sam Mtn, and Hiding Canyon suggest a history of exploration and surveying in the high backcountry. The map also identifies the secluded Pine Valley and the crossing at Puerto Suello Cr, offering a detailed view of the terrain as it existed in 2015.