1965 Map of Peck Lake

About this map

The Flathead National Forest dominates this mid-1960s terrain, where the high ridges of the Mission Range drop toward the Swan River valley. The map documents a landscape defined by water and wilderness access, centered on the Jim Creek Lookout Tower which sits at a high elevation overlooking the Jim Creek drainage. This specific era shows the transition of the Montana backcountry from early resource management to established forest infrastructure, including several named Pack Trail routes that navigate the steep slopes between Jim Lake and Peck Lake. At the lower elevations, the watershed of Cold Creek and its branches, North Fork Cold Creek and South Fork Cold Creek, reveal the complex drainage patterns feeding into the valley. Near the eastern edge, a lone Gravel Pit serves as a small marker of local road-building activity during this period of forest development.