1960 Map of Beth Lake

About this map

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Superior National Forest define this landscape of interconnected lakes and glacial drainages in Cook County. The map details the transition between these protected lands, centered on the chain of water bodies including Beth Lake and the massive Alton Lake. A subtle shift in human activity is evident on the eastern edge, where Sawbill Road provides access to the Sawbill Guard Station and the Sawbill Lake Campground at the edge of the primitive wilderness. From the headwaters of the Temperance River to the various smaller basins like Maggie Lake and Sunhigh Lake, the terrain reflects a world where transportation is dictated by water and portage rather than pavement. The township boundaries of Schroeder and the presence of State Forest Boundaries delineate the administrative management of this northern Minnesota interior during the mid-to-late twentieth century.