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1963 Map of Basin Butte

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Basin Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Potato Mountain and Basin Butte dominate this section of the Challis National Forest, where high-elevation drainage systems define the landscape during the early 1960s. The map reveals a history of extraction and mountain transit, evidenced by the Hay Mine and various prospects scattered near the headwaters of Hay Creek. A network of primary trails and jeep trails connects these remote points, reflecting the difficult mobility required for forestry and mining operations.

Water systems are a primary focus, with the watershed feeding into Valley Creek Lake and numerous drainage basins like Little Basin Creek and Stanley Creek. The presence of a Lookout at Basin Butte underscores the area's importance for fire observation and forest management. These details, including the specific courses of Joes Gulch and Anderson Creek, provide a clear view of the natural and industrial geography before modern development or shifts in federal land management priorities.