1965 Map of Nelson Peak

About this map

Nelson Peak and Benson Peak dominate the topography of this mountainous portion of the Selkirk range along the border of Stevens and Pend Oreille counties. The landscape is characterized by high-elevation meadows and remote summits, connected by primitive infrastructure such as the Upper Cottonwood Road and the Divide Road. The 1970s revisions to this mid-century survey reveal a territory defined by seasonal occupation and specialized land use, centered around sites like Camp Hafer and Kaniksu Ranch. Water resources are abundant in the high basins, with Deer Lake to the south and a series of smaller alpine bodies including Nelson Lake, Benson Lake, and Buzzard Lake. Numerous Prospect and Prospects labels indicate a history of mineral exploration throughout the Cottonwood Creek and Grouse Creek drainages.