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1968 Map of Lava Hot Springs

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Lava Hot Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The Lava Hot Springs resort community is situated at the northern edge of the Portneuf Range, where the Portneuf River carves a path through the Idaho landscape. This late 1960s survey documents the town's development around its famous geothermal features, including the Lava Hot Springs Cem and the local Golf Course. The infrastructure of the era is clearly defined by the Union Pacific tracks and the notable Old Indian Treaty Boundary Road, which follows the river valley.

South of the settlement, the terrain is defined by a series of deep canyons and seasonal water sources, such as Chatterton Canyon and Rough Canyon. The presence of several named springs, including Christenson Spring and Welcome Spring, suggests a landscape where water management was critical for local ranching and transit. To the east, Dempsey Creek and its tributaries like Beaverdam Creek drain the higher elevations, while numerous family-named roads like Smith Road and Newbold Road indicate established property lines and rural homesteads.