1987 Map of Italian Canyon

About this map

Birch Creek Valley dominates this 1980s landscape, where the flat drainage floor of Birch Creek meets the dramatic rising slopes of the Targhee National Forest. The map documents a rugged high-desert environment defined by resource extraction and sparse settlement. Numerous Prospect sites and an Adit are scattered across the northern gulches, including Smelter Gulch and Wilmot Gulch, indicating a history of mineral exploration in the area. Evidence of early valley inhabitants is preserved at the Barzee Cem, located near the creek bed. A network of 4wd tracks provides the only access into the deeply incised terrain of Italian Canyon, Indian Head Canyon, and Eidelman Canyon, revealing how the topography dictated movement through this corner of Lemhi County.