1952 Map of Norton Bay B-1

About this map

The Kaltag Portage Sled Trail cuts across the southeast corner of this subarctic landscape, marking a vital historic corridor between the Yukon River and Norton Sound. This 1952 topographic study, revised in 1973, reveals a rugged interior dominated by the northern reaches of the Kaiyuh Mountains. The drainage patterns here are complex, defined by the headwaters of several major Alaskian waterways. The Unalakleet River and its South Fork dominate the western half, while the Kaltag River and Nulato River drain the eastern slopes. The lack of established settlements emphasizes the remote character of the region during the mid-20th century, where travel relied on seasonal routes like the sled trail and the natural highways of the river systems.