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1963 Map of Elk Lake

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Elk Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Elk Lake serves as a central hub in this high-elevation landscape, where the Cascade Lakes Highway provides access to a concentration of recreation sites like Beach Campground and the Sunset View Picnic Area. The map captures a moment in the mid-20th century when the Deschutes National Forest and Willamette National Forest were managed through outposts like the Elk Lake Guard Sta and Horse Lake Guard Sta.

To the west, the Skyline Trail traverses the Mink Lake Basin, weaving through a dense network of water bodies including Doris Lake and Leech Lake. The eastern half is defined by volcanic features such as Red Crater and Moolack Butte, alongside the headwaters of the Deschutes River near Little Lava Lake. This survey provides a record of the early infrastructure supporting the transition from timber and fire management to high-country tourism.