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1969 Map of Indian Spring

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Indian Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Big Pryor Mountain dominates the high-altitude landscape of this 1960s survey, marking a rugged intersection of the Custer National Forest and the Crow Indian Reservation Boundary. The terrain is defined by a series of dramatic drainages including Timber Canyon, Water Canyon, and the evocatively named Inferno Canyon. This area served as a functional wilderness outpost during the late 1960s, evidenced by the presence of the Sage Creek Ranger Station and scattered remote dwellings like Bainbridge Cabin and Graham Cabin.

Water sources are critical landmarks in this arid environment, with names like Indian Spring, Angus Spring, and Bent Spring indicating essential points for livestock or travel. Numerous Prospects are noted throughout the canyons, particularly along the Miller Trail, pointing to a history of small-scale mineral exploration in the Carbon and Big Horn County borderlands. The network of Jeep Trails and paths like Graham Trail illustrate how this part of Montana was navigated before modern infrastructure reached the Pryor Mountains.