1969 Map of Ericsburg NW

About this map

Rat Root River meanders through the heart of this northern Minnesota landscape, defining a terrain dominated by extensive wetlands and seasonal routes. The presence of several stretches marked as Winter Trail highlights the importance of frozen ground for navigation and timber transport in this Koochiching County wilderness. The Burlington Northern railroad cuts a straight line through the northwestern corner, providing a stark industrial contrast to the surrounding marshes. Near the center, Moose Lake and the smaller Beaver Brook drain the low-lying interior, while a solitary Gravel Pit near the northern boundary indicates the sparse but necessary infrastructure required for road maintenance in this water-heavy environment. This survey, grounded in 1968 aerial photography, preserves the intricate hydrological network of the Border Lakes region before modern land management shifted local access patterns.