Loading map...

1960 Map of Medicine Wheel

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Medicine Wheel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Medicine Wheel (Ancient Stone Structure) sits atop a high ridge of Medicine Mountain, serving as the focal point of this high-altitude landscape within the Bighorn National Forest. Surveyed in 1960, the map details a region defined by dramatic elevation changes and significant water sources, including the headwaters of Five Springs Creek and the meandering Crystal Creek. The presence of the ancient stone structure and named landmarks like Petes Hole and Tilletts Hole suggests a territory long utilized for its vantage points and sheltered basins.

Industrial and recreational footprints are minimal, though a Radio Tower stands near the peaks and the Five Springs Campground marks a point of access for visitors. The terrain is navigated by a singular Jeep Trail that winds past Railroad Springs and through the breaks of Devil Canyon. This map preserves the remote character of the northern Big Horns before modern development altered the primitive access routes to these sacred and geographic heights.