1958 Map of Gates Park

About this map

The Lewis and Clark National Forest encompasses this wilderness landscape, centered on the confluence of the Sun River and the North Fork Sun River. In the late 1950s, the area served as a remote outpost for forest management and wildlife protection, notably within the Lewis and Clark Game Preserve. The presence of the Gates Park Guard Station and a nearby Landing Strip (Private) indicates the logistical requirements of maintaining such an isolated backcountry territory. The map details an extensive network of travel routes, including a primary Route and various Pack Trails, which cross the mountainous terrain and pass landmarks like Rabbit Butte and Biggs Creek Flat. A solitary Footbridge over the river further highlights the reliance on primitive infrastructure for navigating this section of the Continental Divide's eastern slope.