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1953 Map of Happy Spring

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Happy Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Crooks Mountain dominates the center of this Wyoming high-desert landscape, recorded during the mid-century as part of the Missouri River Basin development program. The terrain is defined by a series of drainages, including Alkali Creek, West Alkali Creek, and the deep cut of Bull Canyon. These water sources were critical for the regional livestock industry, evidenced by the presence of the Happy Spring Sheep Camp located near the eponymous Happy Spring.

Historical movement through this arid corridor is traced by the Emigrant Trail cutting across the northern sections, while the Bison Basin Road provides a primary route through the southern reaches. The map identifies several perennial water points such as Warm Springs and Coyote Lake, which served as vital landmarks for both the early westward migration and the sheep-ranching operations that later established themselves in these Fremont County uplands.