1963 Map of John Day Mtn

About this map

Nez Perce National Forest dominates this mid-century landscape in Idaho County, revealing a high-elevation wilderness defined by steep drainages and fire observation points. In the early 1960s, a lone Lookout Tower stood atop Slate Point, guarding the vast timberlands. The terrain is structured by prominent landforms like John Day Mountain and Allison Ridge, while high-altitude water sources such as Nut Basin Lake dot the upper basins. The drainage network is particularly dense here, with John Day Creek and its many tributaries, including the East Fork, carving deep paths through the forest. This area remains largely undeveloped, served only by primitive transportation routes like the Jeep Trail and other unnamed hiking trails, which provided the only access for forest management and back-country navigation during this era.