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1963 Map of Parsnip Mountain

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Parsnip Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Kootenai National Forest dominates this mid-century survey of the high Lincoln County interior, centered on the towering Parsnip Mountain. The landscape is defined by its early fire-watch infrastructure and primitive access routes, most notably the Pinto Point Lookout Tower perched atop Pinto Point. This site, along with Maxine Point and Lawrence Mountain, provided the critical vantage points required for forest management before modern aerial surveillance became the standard.

A network of drainage systems, including Big Fork Creek and Charlie Creek, carves through the steep slopes of Garden Ridge and South Fork Hill. The map meticulously records the numerous pack trails and the Lookout Trail that served as the primary arteries for foresters and rangers navigating these heights. These paths follow the natural contours of the land, linking the various summits and water sources like Parsnip Creek and Copeland Creek, illustrating the remote and functional character of the Montana backcountry during the early 1960s.