Loading map...

1966 Map of Gardiner Peak

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Gardiner Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The Selway River cuts a deep course through the heart of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in this mid-1960s survey. The landscape is defined by its steep elevation gains, rising from the riverbank to summits like Elevator Mtn and the 6,597-foot Gardiner Peak, which serves as a primary vantage point for the surrounding Nezperce National Forest. Human presence is sparse and concentrated along the water, where the Shearer Guard Station and Running Creek Ranch utilize small Landing Strips for access in a region otherwise devoid of roads.

A network of historical access routes, including the Pack Trail and Eagle Creek Trail, follow the ridgelines and tributaries like Goat Creek and Running Creek. These trails provided essential connections between lookout towers and administrative sites before the advent of modern infrastructure. The map also records river-mile markers and local landmarks like Waldo Bar and Archer Point, which have long served as navigational aids for those traveling through the Bitterroot National Forest.