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1963 Map of Basin Butte

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Basin Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Challis National Forest dominates this mid-century topographic study, revealing a landscape defined by its high-elevation drainage systems and resource extraction history. The terrain is centered around the prominent Basin Butte Lookout and Potato Mountain, with numerous creeks such as Stanley Creek, Kelly Creek, and Duffy Creek carving through the mountain slopes. Evidence of mining activity is scattered across the quadrant, most notably at the Prospect Mine and several unnamed prospects located near Sawmill Creek.

A network of trails and jeep paths connects the remote basins, including Little Basin, providing access to isolated outposts like Cow Camp. The presence of Valley Creek Lake in the northern portion of the map highlights the area's natural alpine features. This record captures the region after 1957 aerial photography and 1963 field checks, documenting the specific placement of fence lines and unimproved roads that served the local forestry and mining interests of Custer County during the early 1960s.