1963 Map of Obsidian

About this map

The Salmon River flows through the high elevations of the Sawtooth Valley in this early 1960s survey of Custer County. The small settlement at Obsidian and the nearby Idaho Rocky Mtn Ranch represent the sparse human footprint in a landscape dominated by the boundary between the Challis National Forest and the Sawtooth National Forest. This era predates the formal designation of the surrounding wilderness areas, showing a network of primitive access points including a Jeep Trail following Fourth of July Creek. Water features like Yellow Belly Lake and Fisher Creek are clearly delineated, along with landmarks such as the Sawtooth Valley Ranger Station. The presence of a small Prospect and several Gravel Pits indicates the minor localized resource extraction occurring alongside the emerging recreational and ranching economy of the valley.