1955 Map of Bradfield Canal A-5

About this map

The Bradfield Canal and its surrounding glacial-fed waterways define this coastal portion of the Tongass National Forest. In the mid-1950s, the landscape was largely characterized by its complex hydrography, including the Harding River and the braided outflows of the White River. Evidence of human presence is sparse but distinct, marked by a Gaging Sta on the upper canal and unidentified Ruins near Bell Arm. The interior terrain is dominated by the Kapho Mountains and prominent peaks like Mount Tyee, which towers over the high-elevation Tyee Lake. Significant freshwater bodies such as Reflection Lake and Eagle Lake drain through the Eagle River system into the saltwater of Eagle Bay. This survey captures the wilderness in a transitional period, utilizing aerial photography from 1948 to map the intricate shorelines and tidal flats before further modern development reached this corner of the Alaska panhandle.