1953 Map of Pathfinder Reservoir SW

About this map

Pathfinder Reservoir dominates this high-altitude Wyoming landscape, serving as a focal point for the surrounding wildlife habitats and drainage systems. This 1953 field-checked survey illustrates the complex hydrology feeding into the reservoir, with named watercourses such as Sand Creek, Bear Creek, Junk Creek, and Sunday Morning Creek cutting through the arid terrain. The eastern edge of the map is defined by the steep slopes of the Pedro Mountains, while the western side shows a more gradual elevation change marked by a Jeep Trail and intermittent springs. The establishment of the Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge underscores the region's importance for conservation. Human presence is sparse, centered primarily around the Park Ranch, highlighting the character of the Missouri River Basin development era where land use was primarily dedicated to water management, ranching, and the preservation of natural resources.