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1962 Map of Nelson

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Nelson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Helena National Forest dominates this topographic survey, revealing the remote character of Lewis and Clark County in the early 1960s. The small settlement of Nelson serves as the primary human landmark amidst a complex network of drainages and high peaks, including Sacajawea Mountain and Sawtooth Mountain. The landscape is defined by its deep gulches, such as Log Gulch, Keepout Gulch, and Checkerboard Gulch, which suggest a terrain carved by persistent seasonal water flows.

A network of modern and primitive infrastructure is visible, with a pipeline and various pack trails crossing the elevations. These routes follow the natural contours of the land, navigating between prominent points like Devils Tower and Cap Mtn. Waterways like Beaver Creek and Soup Creek provide the fundamental structure for the area's geography, illustrating how the regional topography dictated early access and movement through this part of the Big Belt Mountains.