1960 Map of Painted Rocks Lake

About this map

The West Fork Bitterroot River corridor defines this remote stretch of the Montana-Idaho border, where the Bitterroot National Forest and Salmon National Forest converge. The landscape is marked by the engineering of the West Fork Dam, which created Painted Rocks Lake, a central feature for recreation and water management in the region. Historic transportation routes are etched into the terrain, including the North Route of Old Nez Perce Trail and the Old Nez Perce Trail, tracing indigenous and early pioneer paths through the high country. Resource extraction and early administration are visible through the presence of the Lucky Joe Mine, Copper Queen Mine, and the Alta Ranger Station. Surveyors marked prominent peaks like Bare Cone and Castle Rock, providing essential triangulation points for mapping this complex river-and-ridge system.