1958 Map of Big Lake

About this map

The Apache National Forest and the eastern edge of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation dominate this mid-century landscape, centered on the high-elevation waters of Big Lake. The map reveals a robust network of forest infrastructure, including several established recreational sites like Big Lake Forest Camp and Diamond Rock Forest Camp. Fire prevention and management are evident through the Big Lake Knoll Lookout and the Pat Knoll Guard Sta, while the presence of the Voigt Ranch, Phelps Ranch, and P S Ranch indicates the region's enduring ranching legacy. The hydrology is complex, defined by the East Fork Black River and the West Fork Black River, which converge at Three Forks. This area, mapped from 1950 aerial photography, showcases a terrain of volcanic knolls like Wahl Knoll and Pat Knoll interspersed with mountain springs and drainage draws.