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1963 Map of Alturas Lake

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Alturas Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Sawtooth City (Site) stands as a historic footprint in the Sawtooth Valley, marking a point of 19th-century settlement along the Beaver Creek drainage. This 1963 field survey documents the high-altitude landscape where the headwaters of the Salmon River flow past the Custer and Blaine County boundary. The area's mid-century character is defined by a mix of recreational and ranching infrastructure, including Smiley Creek Lodge, Camp Perkins, and the Smiley Creek Landing Strip.

The map reveals a network of glacial lakes including Alturas Lake, Pettit Lake, and Yellow Belly Lake within the Sawtooth National Forest. Beyond the larger water bodies, smaller features like the Sawtooth Cemetery and Hot Springs on Warm Spring Creek provide specific points of interest for genealogists and local historians. The presence of Pole Creek Road and various pack trails illustrates the transition from early mining access to modern forestry and seasonal recreation.