1956 Map of Coleen

About this map

The Porcupine River and Coleen River dominate this interior Alaskan landscape, which spans the transition from the Yukon Flats into the high Brooks Range foothills. In this 1950s survey, the area is defined by a sparse network of watercourses and seasonal paths, notably a Tractor Trail cutting through the western terrain near Grayling Creek. Small outposts like Old Rampart and Old Camp sit along the winding riverbanks, marking the limited human presence in what is now part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The map identifies numerous family-named or descriptive landmarks, from Henry Martin Island to Strangle Woman Creek. Topographically, the land rises to prominent summits such as Spike Mountain and Seven Dikes Mountain, while the Upper Ramparts create a narrow passage for the Porcupine as it flows toward the Canadian border at the Alaska Yukon boundary.