1963 Map of Alturas Lake

About this map

Sawtooth Valley defines this high-country landscape, where the headwaters of the Salmon River wind through the Sawtooth National Forest. This mid-1960s survey documents the area's transition from old mining roots to a hub for mountain recreation. Evidence of earlier settlement is found at Sawtooth City (Site) and the nearby Sawtooth Cem, remnants of the 19th-century silver rush. By this era, the valley had become a seasonal destination, centered around Smiley Creek Lodge and Lake Alturas Lodge. The map details a network of camps and landings, including Camp Luthy, Camp Perkins, and the Smiley Creek Landing Strip, supporting travel along the valley floor. Large alpine water bodies like Alturas Lake, Pettit Lake, and Yellow Belly Lake dominate the western edge of the quadrangle, serving as the primary landmarks for this stretch of the Custer and Blaine County line.