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2011 Map of Blackbird Creek

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Blackbird Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Blackbird Mines and the Cobalt Mine define this mineral-rich pocket of Lemhi County, reflecting a landscape shaped by industrial extraction in the Salmon River Mountains. The presence of the Blackbird Tailings Dam along Blackbird Creek indicates the significant scale of processing operations that occurred here. A complex network of National Forest roads, including Nat For Dev Rd 116 and Blackbird Creek Rd, provides access through the deep drainage basins of Panther Creek and its many tributaries.

Scattered agricultural holdings like Miller Ranch and Indian Gulch Ranch stand alongside mining prospects like the Musgrove Mine. This intersection of ranching and hard-rock mining is typical of the region, where family names are often preserved in landmarks such as McDonald Gulch and Sawmill Gulch. The map captures a moment in the early 21st century when these remote industrial and residential sites remained active within the forest interior.