2017 Map of Initial Point

About this map

Initial Point marks a critical geographic anchor on this sheet, serving as the fundamental surveying origin for the Public Land Survey System across much of Idaho. The landscape is defined by the deep carving of the Snake River, which forms the boundary between Ada Co and Owyhee Co. This river corridor includes the significant drop at Swan Falls, where the terrain transitions sharply from the high plateau of the north into the river canyon. This area is characterized by a network of recreational and historical paths, including the Halverson Lake Trail and the Dedication Point Grade Trail. The presence of the Waldvogel Canal and Con Shea Basin reflects the region's relationship with water management and natural drainage, while the rectilinear road grid of the northern sections illustrates the orderly expansion of land divisions originating from the survey point.