1966 Map of Mount Baird

About this map

Mount Baird and Elkhorn Peak dominate the high-altitude landscape of the Targhee National Forest, straddling the border between Idaho and Wyoming in the mid-1960s. This survey records a wilderness shaped by deep drainages and high ridges, where recreation and conservation intersect along the eastern shore of the Palisades Reservoir. The map details specific lakeside developments like the YMCA Camp and Big Elk Creek Campground, which serve as gateways to an extensive network of Pack Trails and Jeep Trails threading through the backcountry. Notable geological and topographical points of interest include the sheer rise of Needle Peak, the secluded Spaulding Basin, and the winding paths of Big Elk Creek and Little Elk Creek. The presence of the Palisades Reservoir, with its underwater contours mapped by the Bureau of Reclamation, highlights the era's focus on water management and its impact on the region's geography.