Loading map...

1956 Map of Ventana Cones

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Ventana Cones
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Los Padres National Forest forms the backdrop for this mid-century topographic survey, where high summits and deep canyons dictate the pattern of travel. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of major coastal waterways, including the Big Sur River and the Little Sur River, which carve through the steep terrain of the Santa Lucia Range. Notable peaks such as Ventana Double Cone, featuring a lookout, and South Ventana Cone anchor the topography, while a network of paths like the Pine Ridge Trail and Rattlesnake Trail connect isolated backcountry outposts.

Remote settlements and sites of interest are scattered throughout the drainage basins, from Sulphur Springs Camp along the Carmel River to the Church located in Pine Valley. The distribution of these camps, such as Hiding Canyon Camp and Bear Basin Camp, suggests a region dedicated to conservation and backcountry recreation prior to modern infrastructure expansion. Researchers can trace old forest boundaries and family-named landmarks like Uncle Sam Mtn and Elephant Mtn as they appeared in the 1950s.