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1962 Map of Nelson

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Nelson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Nelson sits at the heart of this landscape within the Helena National Forest, where the terrain is defined by a dense network of gulches and high mountain peaks. Mapping by photogrammetric methods in the mid-1950s captures the area's isolation and its functional infrastructure, including the Chesnut Valley Ranger Sta and several pack trails that traverse the steep topography. Significant elevations such as Sacajawea Mountain, Sawtooth Mountain, Cap Mtn, and Sheep Mtn provide a rugged backdrop to the water systems of Beaver Creek and its many tributaries.

Evidence of late 20th-century utility work is visible through a pipeline corridor cutting through the southeastern sections. Local history is preserved in the descriptive names of the landscape, from the steep Coulter Canyon in the northwest to family-named or character-driven features like Keepout Gulch, Sweats Gulch, and the distinctive Devils Tower landmark. This survey provides a clear view of the forest's development and natural contours before the expansion of more modern road networks.