1962 Map of Nez Perce Peak

About this map

Nez Perce Trail and its various historical branches dictate the human geography of this high-altitude wilderness along the border of Idaho and Montana. Surveyed in the early 1960s, this area of the Bitterroot National Forest is defined by a series of steep drainages, including Deep Creek and Cayuse Creek, which flow away from the prominent Nez Perce Peak. The presence of several paths, such as the North Route Old Nez Perce Trail and South Route Old Nez Perce Trail, highlights the long-standing significance of Nez Perce Pass as a mountain crossing. This landscape is a complex network of ridgelines and saddles, notably Hells Half Acre Saddle and Vance Creek Saddle, which provided critical transit points for early travel through these high elevations before the development of modern infrastructure.