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1962 Map of Fort Bidwell

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Fort Bidwell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Fort Bidwell Indian Reservation and the town of Fort Bidwell occupy the eastern edge of the Warner Mountains, where the high desert meets the forested slopes of the Modoc National Forest. This 1960s survey captures a landscape defined by its remote northern mining history and high-altitude water management. To the north, the Highgrade Road snakes through the peaks, providing access to sites like the North Star Basin, Modoc Mines, and Moonlight Mines. These operations were centered around rugged terrain near Mt Vida and the Highgrade Spring.

Transitioning from the mountains to the arid basin floor, the map details a network of water features critical for ranching and settlement, including Lake Annie and Cow Head Lake. The presence of several Flowing Wells in the Surprise Valley and the Ditch near Bidwell Mtn illustrate the effort to divert water for local use. For those tracing regional history, the map preserves the location of remote outposts like Scammons Arrowhead Ranch and the isolated Airstrip near the foothills.