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1962 Map of Mud Lake

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Mud Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1994
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1994

About this map

The Big Hole Valley in Beaverhead County is defined by its sprawling ranching history and the intricate, meandering path of the Big Hole River. This 1962 aerial-based survey documents a landscape dominated by historic homesteads and family-named cattle operations, such as the Mussigbrod Homestead and Mc Vey Homestead, situated near the foot of the Beaverhead National Forest. The presence of the Wisdom Cem and scattered Gravel Pits alongside Highway 43 illustrates the practical infrastructure supporting this high-elevation agricultural community.

Water management is central to the terrain, with numerous tributaries like Plimpton Creek and Howell Creek feeding into the main river channel. The map detail highlights the marshy character of the valley floor, where Swamp Creek and the small Mud Lake indicate a high water table. This document is a vital resource for tracing the lineage of Montana high-country ranching and the persistence of frontier-era land claims in the mid-20th century.