1989 Map of Beavers River

About this map

Stillwater Reservoir dominates the heart of the Adirondack landscape in this 1989 provisional survey, serving as the central waterway for the remote settlements of Beaver River and Norridgewock. The map illustrates a region defined by its complex hydrology, where Loon Lake, Big Burnt Lake, and dozens of smaller ponds like Witchhopple Lake are tucked between high peaks such as Mt Electra and Silt Mtn. This area in northern Herkimer County reflects a specific moment in the late 20th century where traditional access was shifting; while the Old Railroad Grade traces a path through the woods past Keepawa and Brandreth, the landscape remains largely defined by its interior water routes and isolated outposts. The detailed contouring around Falls Lake and the Beaver River itself highlights the varied elevations of the Adirondack Park, showing a territory where human presence is clustered at the water's edge and along former rail corridors.