1970 Map of Bettles D-2

About this map

The South Fork Koyukuk River winds through this interior Alaskan wilderness, carving a path between the Jack White Range and the surrounding drainage basins. This 1970 aerial survey documents a landscape defined by its waterways and seasonal transit routes, showing the Winter Trail and Winter Road that provided access before permanent infrastructure was established. Evidence of local industry is found at the Gold Bench Placer Mine, located near the northern reaches of the river, while a Landing Strip and the Prospect Uncamp near Prospect Creek indicate the logistical footprints of resource exploration or maintenance. Tributaries like Jim River and Hudson Bay Creek feed the main fork, illustrating the intricate hydrology of the Yukon-Koyukuk region during a period of increasing northern development.