1961 Map of Ashbough Canyon

About this map

Blacktail Mountains dominate the southwestern portion of this landscape, rising sharply from the basin formed by Blacktail Deer Creek. The area is characterized by a series of deep canyons and gulches, including Ashbough Canyon, Coyote Canyon, and Van Camp Canyon, which carve through the high ground towards the drainage floor. This 1961 field check shows a predominantly ranch-based economy with family-named operations like Landon Ranch, Conover Ranch, and Rock Island Ranch situated near vital water sources. The presence of Borrow Pits and a Mine suggests small-scale resource extraction alongside the grazing activity. A peculiar landmark, Irishmans Hole, marks the rugged slopes below the main ridgeline, indicating the specialized local nomenclature of the Beaverhead County backcountry.