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1962 Map of Golden

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Golden
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Golden and the surrounding river canyons define this 1962 survey of the Idaho gold country, where the South Fork Clearwater River cuts through the Nez Perce National Forest. The map documents a landscape heavily influenced by both lode and placer mining operations, with the settlement of Old Golden situated south of the main river bend near Buckhorn Creek.

Evidence of the region's mineral-driven economy is scattered across the drainages, from the Bluebird Placer Mine on Leggett Creek to the Buffalo Idaho Mine and the Lone Pine Mine near the townsite. The intricate network of trails and jeep tracks suggests a rugged working landscape where remote sites like the Wonder Mine and Wild Hope Mine remained connected to the river corridor. To the south, the terrain levels into the Lower Twentymile Meadows, providing a contrast to the steep slopes of Nellie Mountain and Reed Mountain.