1978 Map of Arctic Point

About this map

Arctic Point Lookout Tower 7518 stands as the high sentinel of this wilderness, overlooking a landscape defined by the drainage of the Chamberlain Basin. Surveyed in the late 1970s, the terrain within the Payette National Forest and the Idaho Primitive Area remains largely untouched, characterized by a complex network of seasonal water sources and meadows. Notable riparian features such as Hot Springs Meadow and Queen Creek Meadow provide rare breaks in the high-elevation ridges. The map meticulously traces a system of Pack Trails, which serve as the primary conduits through the backcountry, connecting sites like Quaking Aspen Springs and various remote campsites. This survey captures a moment of preserved wilderness, documenting the essential geography of the McCalla Ridge and the convergence of creeks like Arctic Creek and Chamberlain Creek before modern forest management practices evolved.