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2011 Map of North Pole

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of North Pole
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

North Pole serves as the focal point for this high-elevation Idaho landscape, where the legacy of early 20th-century mining and modern recreation meet. The map reveals the industrial footprints of the North Star Mine and Wiseboy Mine tucked near the headwaters of Wiseboy Creek. These sites, along with the surrounding terrain of Tenmile Ridge and Williams Creek Ridge, illustrate the remote extractive history typical of Idaho County's backcountry before these areas transitioned toward conservation and recreational use.

Water is a defining element of this region, with a network of alpine lakes and drainages including Crystal Lake, Kelly Lake, and the Wiseboy Lakes. The presence of the Wildhorse Lake Campground near Wildhorse Lake indicates the shift toward seasonal tourism and wilderness access. Transportation is limited to rugged corridors like Buffalo Hump Rd and Sourdough Rd, which follow the difficult contours of the land, connecting landmarks such as Twentymile Butte to the drainages of Tenmile Creek and Williams Creek.