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1964 Map of Natural Trap Cave

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

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Yellowtail Reservoir and the Bighorn River dominate this landscape during a period of significant hydrological transition for Big Horn County. The 1964 field check captures the area just as the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area was being established, following the damming of the river. Evidence of the valley's earlier life remains at Kane Cem and along the Big Fork Canal near the southern margin.

The rugged uplands are defined by industrial and geological landmarks, from the mineral extraction at Titan Mine and Lisbon Mines to the namesake Natural Trap Cave. The map also details a remote Landing Strip and numerous Jeep Trails weaving between Sykes Mountain and Little Mountain, illustrating how the mid-century economy balanced recreational development with traditional mining and ranching interests.