1963 Map of Cactus Mtn

About this map

Snake River and Salmon River dominate this landscape along the Idaho-Oregon border, where deep canyons carve through the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The map documents a period when the river was primarily navigated by its series of formidable rapids, including Zigzag Rapids, Whitehorse Rapids, and Dug Bar Rapids. Remote human activity is centered around the Spencer Ranch and its adjacent Landing Strip, illustrating the reliance on air and water access in this steep terrain. Prominent landmarks such as Sugarloaf Butte and the Wallowa Summit Ridge provide distinct navigational points above the canyons. Genealogists and historians can locate specific points of local movement like the Cow Creek Bridge and trace the complex series of gulches and creeks that defined early boundaries in this tri-county intersection.