1970 Map of Bettles D-1

About this map

The S Fk Koyukuk R and Jim River define this interior Alaska landscape, captured during a period of expanding northern infrastructure. A prominent Winter Road cuts diagonally through the northern terrain, crossing Grayling Creek and passing just east of Grayling Lake. This seasonal route reflects the historical reliance on frozen ground for overland transport in the Brooks Range foothills before permanent highway development reached this far north. The drainage network is dense with tributaries such as Prospect Creek, Douglas Creek, and Bear Creek, which carve through high ridges and valleys. While no permanent settlements are labeled, the detailed mapping of these watercourses and the winter corridor indicates the region's importance for early resource exploration and seasonal transit routes between the Koyukuk and Chandalar basins.