1985 Map of Alpha

About this map

Long Valley and the surrounding high country of the West Mountains define this mid-1980s survey of central Idaho. The landscape is dominated by the sprawling Cascade Reservoir in the north and the meandering course of the North Fork Payette River, which flows south toward the settlement of Alpha. Within the Boise National Forest, the terrain rises sharply to summits like Snowbank Mtn and Collier Peak, while numerous alpine water bodies such as Raft Lake and Shirts Lake are tucked into the high ridges. The map captures the interface between the protected forest wilderness and the valley floor, where small rural outposts like Cabarton, Belvidere, and Pearsol dot the flatlands near the river. Water drainage patterns are intricate, with Big Creek and Hurdy Creek cutting through the timbered slopes to reach the primary river system.