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1953 Map of Mount McKinley D-4

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Mount McKinley D-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Muddy River and McKinley River dominate this subarctic landscape, where a complex network of wetlands and namesake lakes defines the interior drainage of the Alaska Range foothills. This 1953 survey, later updated in 1968, records a wilderness nearly devoid of permanent settlements, relying instead on a seasonal Sled Road for overland movement. The hydrology is incredibly dense, featuring a maze of named water bodies like Big Lily Lake, Starr Lake, and the expansive Chilchukabena Lake.

Evidence of the area's dynamic river systems is seen in the meandering paths of Birch Creek and the Kantishna River. The inclusion of Hot Slough and Beaverlog Lakes suggests a landscape shaped by shifting channels and permafrost-influenced terrain. For researchers, the map provides an essential baseline for the region's geography before significant modern changes, documenting the precise location of the early sled route and numerous family-named lakes such as Billberg Lake and Carlson Lake.