1963 Map of Opal Lake

About this map

Panther Creek carves a deep path through this portion of the Salmon National Forest, anchoring a landscape of high basins and remote mining activity as documented in 1963. The map reveals the isolation of early Lemhi County life, highlighting localized cattle or sheep operations at the Merritt Ranch and Kingsbury Ranch in the northern reaches of McGowan Basin. Evidence of the region’s mineral interest is clear at the Rabbit Foot Mine and the Singheiser area, where a network of trails and jeep tracks connects these prospects to the primary drainage of the creek. To the east, the terrain rises into Moyer Basin and Prairie Basin, while the quiet waters of Opal Lake sit at the head of Opal Creek. This survey provides a precise view of the mid-century wilderness before modern access improved, noting small campgrounds and scattered prospects that defined the Idaho backcountry.