1963 Map of Inch Mountain

About this map

Lake Koocanusa dominates this mountainous landscape within the Kootenai National Forest, reflecting a major environmental shift after the construction of Libby Dam. This specific survey includes purple revisions from the early 1980s, revealing the reservoir's extent over the original path of the Kootenai River. The terrain is marked by steep drainages like Big Creek and McGuire Creek which feed into the valley. Higher elevations are anchored by the Inch Mountain peak and the Warland Lookout Tower, while the valley floor features the Peck Gulch Campground and Cedar Island. For historians, the map captures the transition from a river-centered valley to a reservoir-controlled environment, documented through the Kootenai National Forest boundaries and various named gulches like Peck Gulch and Allen Gulch that became shoreline features.