1948 Map of Big Foot Butte

About this map

Big Foot Butte dominates this 1940s landscape in Ada County, rising as a prominent volcanic landmark above the high desert floor. The terrain is defined by its arid drainage patterns and isolated water sources, most notably the seasonal Tadpole Lake and the intermittent Rabbit Creek which winds through the eastern portion of the quadrangle. Surveyed just after the war, the map reveals a sparsely settled region primarily occupied by a network of unimproved roads and survey benchmarks such as Bm 3151 and Bm 3163. The presence of Wind Butte Lakes in the northeast corner and the central peak of Big Foot Butte—marked by the Vabm 3535 triangulation station—illustrates the characteristic topography of Idaho's Snake River Plain, where volcanic features and catch basins dictate the movement and survival of livestock and travelers.