1961 Map of Phantom Lake

About this map

Medicine Bow National Forest encompasses this high-altitude landscape in Carbon County, where the topography is defined by the prominent Slash Ridge and Barrett Ridge. The area is a network of alpine hydrology, featuring a cluster of small lakes such as Phantom Lake, Magnolia Lake, and Arrastre Lake. The presence of Stamp Mill Lake and Gold Hill suggests the legacy of early mineral exploration and processing that often preceded forest management in the Wyoming high country. Centrally located, the Slash Ridge Lookout provides a glimpse into the forest fire detection infrastructure of the mid-20th century. The drainage patterns are complex, with the headwaters of North French Creek, Middle French Creek, and South French Creek carving through the timbered slopes. This 1961 survey, updated with 1980s data, documents a transition in public land use from resource extraction to managed recreation and conservation.