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1973 Map of Big Chief Creek

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Big Chief Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

The Boise National Forest in central Idaho was a hub of remote backcountry activity during the early 1970s, as documented in this survey of the Salmon River Mountains. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of Big Chief Creek and Pistol Creek, where high-altitude ridges like Big Baldy Ridge and Papoose Ridge separate the steep drainage basins. Evidence of the region’s extractive history is visible at the Springfield Mine, where identified Tailings sit near Springfield Creek, alongside several unnamed Prospect sites scattered across the mountain faces.

Access to this area relied on a network of primitive routes, including the Kiwah Trail and various pack trails that connected isolated features such as Hot Spring and Kiwah Meadow. These trails often followed the contours of the high ground, passing landmarks like Indian Creek Point and Mule Hill. The presence of small water bodies like Meadow Creek Lake, Buck Lake, and the Papoose Lakes suggests a landscape shaped by glacial activity, providing a detailed look at the hydrology of the Idaho-Valley County line before modern environmental changes.