1956 Map of Emerald Lake

About this map

Shoshone National Forest defines this high-altitude landscape where the boundary between Park and Fremont counties traverses the peaks. Mapped during the mid-1950s, the terrain is characterized by a series of prominent summits including Lost Ranger Top, Red Tops, and the curiously named Devils Graveyard near Crescent Top. The drainage patterns are defined by numerous alpine water bodies such as Emerald Lake, Sheep Lake, and Green Lake, which feed into a complex network of mountain streams like Needle Creek and Venus Creek. Movement through this wilderness is traced by established routes like the Emerald Trail and a generic Pack Trail, which follow the natural contours of Sheep Creek and Emerald Creek. The map provides a detailed view of the Missouri River Basin development area prior to modern wilderness management, preserving the nomenclature of the era's surveyors and backcountry travelers.