1962 Map of Lost Creek Divide

About this map

Flathead National Forest occupies this high-elevation landscape in the early 1960s, defined by the sharp topographical crests of Lost Creek Divide and Reid Divide. The area is characterized by a network of steep drainages, including Lost Creek, Dettiker Creek, and Taylor Creek, which carve through the dense timber of northwest Montana. Human presence is light and primarily focused on fire management and backcountry access, evidenced by the Lookout Reid Tower 5928 and various named routes like Rhodes Draw. Unlike more developed regions, this map shows a wilderness economy of the era, where surveying and forest management were the primary drivers of documentation. Rare clearings like Mountain Meadow provide notable breaks in the elevation, offering a glimpse into the specific trail networks and pack routes used by foresters and early recreationists before modern road expansion.