1956 Map of Beartooth Butte

About this map

Shoshone National Forest defines the character of this mid-century landscape, dominated by the massive profile of Beartooth Butte and the high Beartooth Plateau. The 1950s infrastructure reflects a balance between rugged wilderness management and growing alpine tourism, centered around the Beartooth Highway and the State Highway Maintenance Camp. High-altitude recreation is well-established at sites like Beartooth Lake Campground and Island Lake Campground, while the valleys of the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River and Crandall Creek support a network of remote family-named outposts. These include the L Bar T Ranch, Hunter Peak Ranch, and the Crandall Ranger Station. This survey documents a critical period of the High Rockies before modern expansion, capturing the placement of historical backcountry trails like Clarks Fork Trail and isolated landmarks such as Cathedral Cliffs and Windy Mountain.