1960 Map of Painted Rocks Lake

About this map

Alta sits along the West Fork Bitterroot River, serving as a focal point for this high-altitude region of the Bitterroot National Forest during the early 1960s. The landscape is defined by the massive impoundment of Painted Rocks Lake, showing a spillway elevation of 4,726 feet and various creeks like Little Boulder Creek and Blue Joint Creek feeding the reservoir. Transportation through these mountains relies on historic paths such as the Nez Perce Trail and the Castle Route, which navigate the steep terrain between peaks like Razorback Mountain and Bare Cone. The map documents the resource-extraction history of the area, notably the Copper Queen Mine located near Beaver Pt, and various remote outposts including the Magruder Ranger Sta and the Ranger Station at Alta. The boundary between Montana and Idaho follows the high ridges, separating the Salmon National Forest from the Bitterroot range.