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1958 Map of Boars Tusk

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Boars Tusk
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Boars Tusk rises as a prominent volcanic landmark amidst the shifting sands of the Wyoming high desert, south of the Steamboat Rim. This 1958 survey captures a landscape of intense geological variety, where the Continental Divide snakes through the volcanic Leucite Hills and the extensive Sand Dunes of the north. Settlement is sparse and largely focused on remote outposts like the Lewis Ranch (site), Houghton Ranch, and Cookston Ranch, illustrating the persistent ranching efforts in this arid environment.

The presence of the Chilton Mine and several gas and oil wells in the North Baxter Basin signals the region's mid-century energy development. Water management is critical in this terrain, evidenced by the Fifteenmile Knoll Reservoir and drainage patterns like Killpecker Creek and Nitch Creek. For the researcher, the map preserves the alignment of the Winton Cutoff Road and various Jeep Trails that provided access to these remote mineral and grazing lands before modern infrastructure transformed the basin.