1960 Map of Mud Springs

About this map

Bates Hole and the surrounding high plains of the Natrona and Carbon County line are documented here in 1960. This landscape is defined by its water management and grazing routes, notably the Stock Trail and the Casper Medicine Bow Highway that connect these rangelands to larger trade centers. The map reveals the intricate network of water resources vital for livestock in this arid environment, including the Chalk Hill Reservoirs, Lost Reservoir, and the distinctive Cronberg Pit Reservoir No. 1 and No. 2. Elevation changes are marked by prominent geographic features such as Shirley Ridge and Moss Agate Ridge. Named for the Mud Springs settlement, the area shows a clear reliance on seasonal drainages like Lone Tree Creek and Hunt Creek to sustain the isolated ranches and grazing operations scattered across the high Wyoming desert.