1956 Map of Emerald Lake

About this map

The high-altitude drainage systems of the Shoshone National Forest define this 1950s survey of the Absaroka Range. Within the Washakie Wilderness Area, the landscape is dominated by steep summits like Lost Ranger Top and the curiously named Devils Graveyard. A network of historic paths, including the Cougar Pass Pack Trail and Frontier Creek Pack Trail, provides the primary means of navigation through this roadless backcountry. The map captures the intersection of Park and Fremont counties as they divide these mountain headwaters. Small alpine water bodies, such as Emerald Lake and Sheep Lake, serve as the origins for Emerald Creek and Sheep Creek, respectively. The presence of named landmarks like Red Tops and Crescent Top suggests a terrain shaped by severe glaciation and erosion, documented here just as modern wilderness management practices were becoming formalized in the mid-20th century.