1970 Map of Burgess Junction

About this map

The Bighorn Mountains dominate this landscape, rising sharply from the eastern plains where the Tongue River valley supports the established towns of Ranchester, Dayton, and Monarch. This 1970s compilation reflects the high-country recreation and industrial utility of the Bighorn National Forest, showing the critical mountain crossroads at Burgess Junction and the rugged descent toward Shell in the west. The presence of Strip Mines and a Gravel Pit near the Burlington Northern railroad line highlights the area's ongoing extraction economy. From the high elevations of Bald Mountain and Medicine Mountain to the canyons carved by Shell Creek, the map captures a network of Pack Trails and Jeep Trails that provide access to remote landmarks like the Garden of the Gods and Steamboat Point. High-altitude water management is evident through features such as Adelaide Lake and the Fivemile Reservoir.