1962 Map of Mud Lake

About this map

The Big Hole River winds through this high-elevation landscape in Beaverhead County, defining a broad valley shaped by the confluence of the North Fork, Howell Creek, and Plimpton Creek. In the early 1960s, this area remained largely defined by traditional ranching and homesteading, evidenced by family-named sites like the Spokane Ranch, Daniels Ranch, and the Mussigbrod Homestead. The presence of the Wisdom Cem and the Mc Vey Homestead suggests the enduring ties of local families to this stretch of Montana. Towards the east, the terrain rises into the Beaverhead National Forest, where Mc Vey Creek and Doolittle Creek drain towards the valley floor. Near the southern edge of the forest boundary, Mud Lake sits amidst a network of smaller streams and marshes, illustrating the high-mountain drainage patterns of the region before modern development altered the rural character.