1956 Map of Pilot Peak

About this map

Index Peak and the iconic spire of Pilot Peak dominate this high-altitude landscape where the Absaroka National Forest and Shoshone National Forest meet the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park. This mid-century survey captures a wilderness defined by massive landforms like Hurricane Mesa and Amphitheater Mountain. Human presence is concentrated along the northeast corridor, where the Beartooth Highway follows the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River. Here, localized ranching and forest management are evident at the B Four Ranch, the RDS Ranch, and a designated Fire Cache. Extensive networks of named trails, such as the Papoose Trail and various Pack Trails, provide the only access into the interior drainage basins of Crandall Creek and North Fork Crandall Creek. The map serves as a vital record of the backcountry before modern expansion, preserving the locations of remote landmarks like Jim Smith Peak and Indian Peak.