1962 Map of Fly Creek

About this map

Metolius River canyons and high timbered plateaus define this region of the Deschutes National Forest in the early 1960s. The landscape is dominated by the newly formed Lake Chinook, created behind the Box Canyon Dam. This era shows the transition of the waterways from free-flowing canyons to a managed reservoir system, with the normal pool elevation of the lake carefully noted at 1945 feet. High above the water, remote outposts like Fly Lake Lookout and Fly Creek Ranch provide evidence of forest management and early ranching efforts in the rugged Jefferson County backcountry. The map also captures the stark contrast between the dense forest and the open expanse of the Lower Desert and Metolius Bench. A network of early access routes including the Horse Trap Rd and various jeep trails suggest a period when this area was primarily used for timber, grazing, and fire suppression.