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1893 Map of Camas Prairie

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Camas Prairie
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1901
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1901

About this map

The high plains and river systems of Elmore County are captured here during a reconnaissance survey led by geographer A.H. Thompson and topographer W.T. Griswold. The landscape is defined by its expansive plateaus, including the large Camas Prairie in the east and the more localized Little Camas Prairie and High Prairie to the west. These elevated grasslands were essential to the region's early cattle and agricultural development before more intensive irrigation reshaped the Idaho territory.

Water serves as the primary surveyor's guide across this terrain, with the Boise River carving through the northern canyons and the Snake River visible at the southern edge. A complex network of drainages, such as King Hill Creek, Cold Spring Creek, and Little Cañon Creek, illustrates the dramatic vertical drop from the prairie heights down to the major river basins. The settlement of Pine Grove stands as a solitary outpost in the north, connected by early trails that trace the natural contours of the foothills and creek beds.