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1963 Map of Casto

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Casto
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Loon Creek winds through the heart of the Challis National Forest, serving as the primary drainage for this high-elevation backcountry in Custer County. In the early 1960s, the area supported a mix of wilderness infrastructure and isolated private holdings, including the Boyle Ranch and its adjacent Boyle Landing Strip. The presence of a Prospect near Mayfield Creek suggests the enduring interest in the region's mineral potential, even as recreation became more formal with the establishment of the Transfer Campground and Tincup Campground.

A network of primitive routes, labeled simply as Jeep Trail, connects remote outposts like Casto to the Loon Creek Guard Sta. The map meticulously details the intricate drainage system, from the curiously named No Name Creek to the Mystery Creek headwaters. This survey documents a transitional era for the Idaho wilderness, where traditional ranching and prospecting coexisted with the early development of National Forest service infrastructure and public campgrounds.