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1970 Map of Buttercup Mtn

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Buttercup Mtn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Sawtooth National Forest dominates this 1970 study of the high-elevation drainage systems between the Smoky Mountains and the surrounding Idaho peaks. Mining history is a central theme of this landscape, evidenced by the presence of the Buttercup Mine and various unnamed mines and prospects scattered near the Buttercup Creek headwaters. The map records a transition point in the local economy, where early extractive efforts are marked by Ruins and established claim sites near the Blaine and Camas county lines.

A complex network of pack trails and jeep trails provides the only access through the steep drainages of Warm Springs Creek and its many forks. These routes connect isolated landmarks like Placer Flat and Poison Flat to the larger watershed of Dry Gulch Creek. The topographic detail illustrates the drainage patterns from Buttercup Mtn and the numerous gulches, such as Enclosure Gulch and Frys Gulch, that define the southern reaches of the Smoky Mountains.