1966 Map of Big Trails

About this map

Nowood River and the Little Nowood River converge in this high-plains landscape, where ranching and water management define the settlement pattern. The tiny community at Big Trails Ch serves as a lonely landmark in a terrain carved by Red Gulch and Dry Gulch. This 1966 survey documents the infrastructure of the grazing economy, most notably the Big Trails Stock Drive Road, which follows the natural corridors between the foothills. Significant water features like the Need Water Reservoir and the perennial flow from Big Spring illustrate the critical importance of reliable water sources in this arid part of Washakie County. Further north, the drainage network of Otter Creek splits into its North Fork and South Fork, creating a rugged topography navigated by the Vee Road and numerous jeep trails.