1956 Map of Coleen A-4

About this map

The Porcupine River curves through the southeastern corner of this terrain, meeting the lower reaches of the Coleen River amidst a complex network of wetlands and shifting channels. Surveyed in the mid-1950s using aerial photography, the landscape is defined by the prominent heights of Coleen Mountain and Mount Marr, which rise sharply above the river valleys. A lone Tractor Trail in the northwest provides the only named evidence of mechanized passage through this remote interior. The presence of Burnt Paw near the southern riverbend suggests a specific localized landing or point of interest for river travelers of the era. The mapping reflects the mid-century effort by the U.S. Geological Survey to document the drainage patterns and topography of the Arctic wilderness before significant modern change.