1981 Map of Golden Lake

About this map

The Ottawa National Forest dominates this section of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where the landscape is defined by a dense network of glacial lakes and river systems. Along the eastern shore of Golden Lake, the University of Michigan Forestry Camp stands as a significant institutional landmark, highlighting the region's long-standing importance for silviculture and forest management research. The Chicago and North Western railroad corridor cuts through the northern half of the map, following the path of the South Branch Paint River past the small settlement of Elmwood. Further south, the terrain is shaped by Cooks Run and a cluster of smaller bodies of water, including Fourth Lake, Sago Lake, and Ely Lake. The mapping captures a period of established recreational and scientific use, evidenced by the Golden Lake Recreation Area and various boat ramps on James Lake and Tamarack Lake.