1963 Map of Jessen Butte

About this map

Ashley National Forest dominates this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by water management and high-altitude basins along the border of Utah and Wyoming. The northern sections show the agricultural infrastructure of the Lucerne Valley, where the Lucerne Valley Canal and various unnamed canals distribute water through the arid terrain. To the south, the topography rises sharply toward the namesake Jessen Butte and into the timbered reaches of the national forest. Public recreation and land use are evident in the placement of the Palisade Campground and the naming of high-country meadows like Sheep Creek Park and Half Moon Park. Geologic and topographic features such as Conner Basin and Windy Ridge highlight the complex drainage patterns of Sheep Creek and its many tributaries, while a lone Landing Strip and various jeep trails indicate the era's methods of backcountry access.