1964 Map of Heavens Gate

About this map

Nez Perce National Forest and Payette National Forest meet at a dramatic boundary line near the Rapid River. This mid-century survey records a landscape shaped by remote outposts and high-altitude springs, including the Rapid River Fish Hatchery and several isolated mountain dwellings. Evidence of early land use is preserved in labels for the De Veny Place, Potter Place, and Wurl Cabin, alongside the Saddle Camp and Wyant Camp. The terrain is defined by prominent peaks like Heavens Gate, Cannon Ball Mountain, and Mount Sampson, with the H I T Trail navigating the steep draws of Thorn Gulch and Blue Gulch. A network of water sources, from Log Trough Spring to Cottonwood Spring, supported the seasonal camps and administrative outposts like the Game Warden Saddle during a time when these ridges were accessible primarily by trail and unimproved dirt tracks.