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1964 Map of Zaca Lake

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Zaca Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Zaca Lake rests within a high mountain basin, serving as a rare natural focal point in a landscape defined by the rugged San Rafael Mountains. Surveyed in the mid-1960s, this area of Santa Barbara County reveals a network of isolated outposts and early resource extraction sites. To the northwest, the Asphaltum Mine on Asphaltum Creek indicates the region's geological history, while Tunnel Ranch sits tucked along the Sisquoc River.

The map details the transition from the private holdings of La Zaca (Gutierrez) to the public lands of the Los Padres National Forest. Cultural traces such as Honeymoon Flat and the ruins found near the river corridor suggest a history of seasonal ranching and early backcountry settlement. Genealogists and local historians can trace family-named landmarks like Birabent and Canada del Comasa, which connect the terrain to the region's ranching heritage.