1962 Map of Mud Lake

About this map

The confluence of the Big Hole River and its major tributaries dominates this corner of Beaverhead County, defining a landscape of high-altitude ranching and homesteading. At the time of this 1962 field check, the valley floor was characterized by extensive wet meadows and irrigation patterns, evidenced by the intricate meandering of Steel Creek, Plimpton Creek, and the North Fork Big Hole River. Local genealogy is anchored by several specific family landholdings, including the Mussigbrod Homestead, Mc Vey Homestead, and the Rutledge Ranch. These sites, along with the Wisdom Cem, provide a precise record of early 20th-century settlement in this remote basin. The eastern portion of the sheet rises into the timbered slopes of the Beaverhead National Forest, while the namesake Mud Lake sits quietly on the terrace above the river bottomlands.