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1981 Map of Elk City

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Elk City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Elk City serves as the central hub of this 1981 survey, positioned at the confluence of the American River and Red River. The map documents a landscape defined by significant mining activity and wilderness preservation within the Nez Perce National Forest. To the southwest, the mining legacy of the region is evident through clusters of operations such as the Buffalo Hump Mine, Mother Lode Mine, and Blue Ribbon Mine, centering around the peaks of Buffalo Hump and Old Orogrande.

Large swaths of protected land surround these active and former mining districts, including the Gospel Hump Wilderness and the Salmon River Breaks Primitive Area. The rugged terrain is drained by major water systems like the South Fork Clearwater River and the Salmon River, which flows along the southern boundary. Transportation through this remote country is limited to critical routes like the Magruder Road and the Golden Fall Creek Road, reflecting the area's isolation and its reliance on river valleys and ridgelines for movement.