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1985 Map of Otter Lake

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Otter Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Otter Lake and its surrounding wetlands form the center of this rural landscape on the border of Baraga County. In the mid-1980s, this area of the Upper Peninsula was characterized by small settlements like Tapiola and Askel, where winding roads and utility corridors such as a pipeline and powerline cut through the timbered terrain of the Copper State Forest. A network of water defines the geography, with the Otter River, Pike River, and the meandering Sturgeon River all converging in this low-lying basin.

The map reveals the region's resource-based and recreational infrastructure, from a Gravel Pit in the north to the Public Boat Ramp facilities on the lake. Extensive segments of grade suggest the paths of former logging or industrial routes, now repurposed for local transit or forest access. This survey provides a clear look at the hydraulic complexity of the area, including Mud Lake and numerous feeder streams like White Creek and Wortham Creek.