1957 Map of Challis

About this map

The Salmon River and its numerous forks define this expansive mid-century survey of central Idaho, carving through the massive Salmon River Mountains and the jagged Sawtooth Range. The landscape is dominated by a vast network of protected lands, including the Challis National Forest and Boise National Forest. Human activity is concentrated along the river valleys and high-elevation mining districts. Early settlements and mining camps like Bonanza, Custer, and Clayton are documented alongside active extraction sites such as the Yellowjacket Mine and Ramshorn Mine. This era reflects a transition where traditional resource extraction coexisted with increasing federal management, evidenced by the numerous administrative sites like the Cape Horn Guard Station and Seafoam Ranger Station. Transportation routes like 93 follow the natural paths of the Pahsimeroi River and Salmon, connecting remote outposts like Patterson and May to the regional hub at Challis.