1956 Map of Battle Ax

About this map

Bagby Hot Springs Guard Station serves as a central hub in this high-elevation wilderness within the Mount Hood National Forest and Willamette National Forest. The landscape is defined by a dense network of hiking trails and fire lookouts, such as those atop Battle Ax and Thunder Mtn., which monitored the timberlands before the widespread use of modern surveillance. The presence of the Blue Jay Mine near Battle Creek points to the area's prospecting history, while numerous backcountry havens like the Alder Swamp Shelter and Dutch Creek Shelter illustrate the mid-century recreation infrastructure. This terrain is characterized by geological curiosities like Phantom Natural Bridge and a multitude of alpine water bodies, including Elk Lake and the Welcome Lakes.