1957 Map of Buffalo Lake

About this map

The Continental Divide serves as the focal point of this 1957 field survey, where the borders of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming converge in a high-elevation wilderness. This landscape is defined by the intersection of the Targhee National Forest and Yellowstone National Park, capturing the hydrologic headwaters of several major drainages. Notable water features include Buffalo Lake and the complex branching of the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork of the Snake River watershed. The map records a time when human presence was limited to remote infrastructure, such as the Patrol Cabin and various jeep trails and footpaths. Topographical highlights like the Madison Plateau and Moose Creek Plateau are detailed alongside specific named points like Black Mtn and Snow Creek Butte, illustrating the varied terrain of the northern Rockies before modern development reached these borders.