1968 Map of Loon Lake

About this map

The North Branch Saranac River winds through this high-country landscape of the Adirondack State Park, revealing a network of water and early transportation routes in Franklin County. This late-1960s environment is shaped by the transition from industrial uses to recreation, where the Old Plumadore Grade and other rail corridors trace the paths of former logging and mountain transit. Significant water bodies like Loon Lake, Lake Kushaqua, and Buck Pond serve as focal points for both seasonal and permanent settlements such as Gabriels and Merrillsville. The map captures distinct local identifiers like the White Fathers site and the secluded Merrillsville Cemetery, providing a precise look at the geography before modern development intensified. Between the Loon Lake Mountains and the Belmont Range, the terrain is punctuated by small-scale resource extraction at local sand and gravel pits.