1949 Map of Nabesna D-6

About this map

Mentasta Lake and the settlement of Mentasta occupy a critical mountain corridor in the late 1940s, situated where the Glenn Highway traverses the landscape. This survey documents a transitional period for interior Alaska, where traditional routes like the Eagle Trail and various unnamed tractor trails represent the primary infrastructure alongside the newer highway. The Slana River snakes through the center of the sheet, fed by numerous tributaries such as Mentasta Creek and Mabel Creek. To the south, the terrain becomes increasingly complex around Indian Pass and Bear Valley. Evidence of mid-century frontier activity is visible near the Lodge and its adjacent Landing Strip, which served as vital connections for this remote subarctic region before more extensive modern development occurred.