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1963 Map of Meacham Lake

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Meacham Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Union Pacific Railroad carves a steep path through this mountain pass, following the historic corridor of the Old Oregon Trail. This 1963 survey shows a landscape where industrial infrastructure and wilderness intersect, featuring a Landing Strip, an Airway Beacon, and a U.S. Weather Bureau Station situated along the high ridges. The settlements of Meacham and Kamela anchor the rail line, while the surrounding timberlands are divided among the Umatilla National Forest and the Wallowa Whitman National Forest.

A notable Grave is marked near Meacham Creek, hinting at the area's human history along the transit route. The terrain is defined by deep incisions like Coyote Canyon and Dry Creek Canyon, which drain into a network of waterways including Meacham Lake and McKay Creek. This map documents a critical transportation bottleneck in the Blue Mountains, showing the complex engineering of Union Pacific tracks as they crest the summit.