Heritage Resources

Heritage Resources are objects or places created, used or modified by humans. They include sites, structures, buildings, districts and objects associated with, or representative of, people, cultures and human activities and events.

The Stanislaus National Forest manages almost 5,000 archaeological, historic, and prehistoric sites, buildings, and districts.

Archaeology is the study of past human cultures by the systematic recovery and examination of their material remains. Archaeological Concepts

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

The Stanislaus has 6 heritage sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1. Niagara Camp, trestle, and steam donkey graveyard
2. The Big Gap Flume and Siphon of the Golden Rock Ditch
3. Chinaman Creek prehistoric site
4. Quail site prehistoric site
5. Bower Cave
6. Baker Station

SPECIAL INTEREST AREAS

Special Interest Areas are places designated in the Forest Land Management Plan to protect and manage unique features and make educational opportunities available. The Stanislaus National Forest has several areas with unique historic, archaeological, or other cultural features.

• Bourland Creek Trestle Historic Area:  Located on Mi-Wok Ranger District, this is a large, curved, wooden trestle that once supported rails for the Westside Railroad logging system. It was built in the early 1920s. It was 315 feet long and 76 feet above Bourland Creek. The trestle had 22 bents that were spaced 14 feet on center. It is anchored by rough aggregate concrete abutments and piers. It partly collapsed in 1997.
• Jordan Creek / Bower Cave Special Area:  This area, located on the Groveland Ranger District, consists of a unique limestone cavern that was a popular recreation attraction in the early 1900s and has Native American sacred values. It is located in the southwest portion of the Forest along the North Fork Merced River.
• Emigrant Road and the Big Trees-Carson Valley Road Historic Areas:  Located on Calaveras Ranger District, these are segments of two of the historical routes over the Sierra in the 1800s. The Emigrant Road runs parallel south of Highway 4 from Mosquito Lakes to Lake Alpine. The Big Trees-Carson Valley Road goes from Lake Alpine south and west to Alpine Station. The total length of the segments is approximately 7 miles.
• Sonora-Mono Toll Road Historic Area:  Located on Summit Ranger District, this old trans-Sierra road roughly follows Highway 108 from Sonora Pass to Forest Road 5N01.
• Trumbull Peak Historic and Botanic Area:  Located on the Groveland Ranger District, the area includes the upper slopes of Trumbull Peak, the Trumbull Peak Lookout, a railroad spur and two logging inclines. The entire area covers 150 acres. The historical features date back to the 1920's-1940's. The abandoned inclines total about 1-3/4 miles in length. A railroad spur to the longest incline, overlooking the Merced River canyon, is about 4,000 feet long. The abandoned Trumbull Peak Lookout is located on a ridge south of Trumbull Peak at the end of a 1/4 mile trail. The area includes populations of three sensitive plants: Allium yosemitense, Eriophyllum congdonii, and Lewisia congdonii.
• Jawbone Falls Heritage Area:  Designated as a SIA for cultural resources, this 47 acre area is located on Jawbone Creek between Jawbone Falls and Jawbone Meadow, on the Groveland Ranger District west of Cherry Lake.