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1969 Map of China Bend

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of China Bend
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Lake Roosevelt dominates this reach of the Upper Columbia, where the reservoir fills the canyon within the Franklin D Roosevelt National Recreation Area. The landscape is a study in 1960s river-and-rail geography, as the Burlington Northern railroad tracks skirt the eastern shore, connecting small riverfront points like Marble and the eponymous China Bend. This area reflects a mid-century transition from a frontier mining and timber economy to a federally managed recreational landscape.

Industrial activity is still evident on the mountainsides, marked by the Silver Trail Mine and various Quarry and Gravel Pit sites. Elevated features such as Swede Pass and Lookout Mtn overlook the deep valley, while several high-elevation water bodies like O'Toole Lake and Williams Lake dot the upland terrain. Numerous unnamed Jeep Trails and Trails crisscross the ridges, documenting the access routes used for resource extraction and land management.