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1964 Map of Mystery Cave

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Mystery Cave
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Pryor Mountains dominate this high-elevation landscape along the border of Montana and Wyoming, characterized by a complex network of subterranean systems and deep drainage channels. The area is notable for its concentration of named caverns, including Mystery Cave, Royce Cave, and the descriptively named Four Eared Bat Cave. To the east, the terrain drops sharply toward the Bighorn Canyon, where the newly formed Yellowtail Reservoir follows the winding course of the Bighorn River along the edge of the Crow Indian Reservation.

Land management is divided between the Custer National Forest and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, reflecting a transition from timbered uplands to protected river corridors. Human activity is evidenced by scattered prospects and several jeep trails that navigate the difficult terrain of Big Coulee and Burnt Timber Canyon, providing access for geological exploration and recreation during the mid-1960s.