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1963 Map of Kirkwood Creek

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Kirkwood Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Snake River carves through the heart of this landscape, marking the high-stakes border between Idaho and Oregon where the Wallowa National Forest meets the Nez Perce National Forest. The river's character is defined by a series of treacherous water features, including Durham Rapids, China Rapids, and the staggered Lower Kirby Rapids, Middle Kirby Rapids, and Upper Kirby Rapids. This rugged river corridor gives way to the deep cut of Royal Gorge and the elevated Table Lands.

High-altitude livestock operations and mining efforts punctuate the backcountry, evidenced by the presence of the Blue Jacket Mine and multiple cattle outposts like Dixon Cow Camp and Kirkwood Corrals. Settlement patterns follow the water and grazing availability, with the Kirkwood Bar providing a rare level shelf along the river. Landmarks such as the Lookout Tower near Cold Springs Creek and various azimuth markers suggest a landscape heavily utilized for forest management and geodetic surveying in the early 1960s.