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1956 Map of Coleen

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Coleen
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Coleen River watershed dominates this mid-century survey of the far northern interior, where the Alaska Yukon boundary meets the Arctic wilderness. Human presence is sparse, marked by remote outposts such as Owens Cabins and the settlements of Old Rampart and Old Camp along the southern waterways. The landscape is defined by its drainage systems, from the meandering Sheenjek River to the south-flowing Porcupine River, which cuts through Howling Dog Canyon near Fishhook Bend.

A solitary Tractor Trail provides the only overland route across the central lowlands, connecting the river valleys below prominent peaks like Seven Dikes Mountain and Coleen Mountain. The map details a complex network of water features including Vundik Lake, Big Rat Lake, and Strangle Woman Creek. Unique river landmarks such as the Half-way Pillar and Red Gate serve as navigational aids along the Porcupine, illustrating the vital role of these river corridors for travel and subsistence during the 1950s.