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1965 Map of China Cap

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of China Cap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Minam River flows through the high backcountry of the Wallowa National Forest in this mid-1960s topographic survey. The map details a landscape where primitive travel is the primary means of access, evidenced by an extensive network of named paths including the Cartwheel Trail and the Pack Trail winding through the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Human presence is sparse, centered on the Catherine Creek Cabin and the Mule Peak Lookout, indicating the area's primary use for forest management and livestock grazing.

Elevations vary significantly from the drainage of Meadow Creek to prominent peaks like Granite Butte and Burger Butte. Named local features like Lackeys Lake, Burger Meadows, and Amelia Spring suggest a history of seasonal use by early ranchers and shepherds. This map captures the remote character of the boundary between the Whitman National Forest and its Wallowa counterpart before modern wilderness designations further restricted mechanized access.