1962 Map of Iron Mtn

About this map

Iron Mountain towers over a complex network of drainages within the Nez Perce National Forest, where high ridges such as Radcliff Ridge and Ericson Ridge separate deep creek valleys. This 1962 field-checked survey reveals the area's transition from early industrial activity to modern forest management. Evidence of historic resource extraction is visible in the southwest, where Dredge Tailings along the American River indicate past mining operations. The Elk City Stage Road follows the riverbank, marking a legacy transportation route through the backcountry. Higher elevations are dotted with landmarks of early fire detection and navigation, including the Elk Summit Lookout and named geographic features like Nugget Point and O'Hara Saddle. The map documents a system of trails weaving through places like Table Meadows, used by foresters and hunters long before the expansion of modern road networks.