1963 Map of Picket Lake

About this map

The Vermilion River snakes through a landscape defined by its transition between protected timberlands in the early 1960s. This survey illustrates the convergence of the Kabetogama State Forest and the Superior National Forest, highlighting a region shaped by glacial hydrology. Small, secluded water bodies like Mankus Lake, Finstad Lake, and Lake Lon are connected by a network of drainages including Hilda Creek and Finstad Creek. Evidence of local extraction is visible at a Gravel Pit near the riverbanks, though the area remains largely undeveloped, characterized by the dense contours of northern Minnesota's lake country. The detailed soundings provided by the Minnesota Department of Conservation offer a rare glimpse into the underwater topography of the river's wider reaches, such as Kabetogama.