1952 Map of Mount McKinley C-3

About this map

The Kantishna Hills and Alpha Ridge define the southeastern corner of this Alaskan interior landscape, mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1952. The terrain is characterized by a complex drainage network, where the broad braided course of the McKinley River cuts across the southwest, while Moose Creek and Lower Moose Creek dominate the eastern drainage toward Canyon Creek. This area represents a remote wilderness prior to extensive modern infrastructure, evidenced by the presence of a primitive Winter Trail and a simple Trail crossing the northern reaches. Surveyed landmarks like Brooker Mtn and Reindeer Hill provide fixed points for navigating the high-relief topography. The map illustrates a transitional subarctic environment of glaciers, streams, and ridges, captured at a moment when human presence was limited to these few trails and named water bodies.