1917 Map of Cranes Flat

About this map

Pine Mountain and Sheep Mountain dominate this corner of southeastern Idaho, where high-altitude valleys and mountain ranges define the drainage patterns of the upper Blackfoot River basin. At the center of the survey lies Cranes Flat, a broad basin floor positioned between the Homer Valley and the northern reaches of the Blackfoot Range. The landscape reflects a transitional period for water management in the region, centered on the Blackfoot Reservoir and various irrigation outlets such as Grays Lake Outlet. Settlement is sparse in this high-country terrain, with the Hancock Ranch representing the isolated livestock operations typical of the era. The mapping of the Caribou Range and Little Gray Ridge highlights the complex topography that historically challenged surveyors and homesteaders alike, while the presence of landmarks like Limerock Mtn and Sugarloaf Mtn provided essential navigation points across the basins.