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1982 Map of Pistol Creek

Name: 1982 Topographic Map of Pistol Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Stibnite and Yellow Pine anchor the human presence in this high-altitude landscape, where the legacies of mineral extraction and backcountry aviation are clearly visible. The map details a complex network of remote outposts and infrastructure, including the Thunder Mountain Mine, Dewey Mine, and Sunnyside Mine, highlighting the area's history as a mining frontier. These operations are supported by a system of wilderness airfields such as the Pistol Creek Landing Strip and Indian Creek Landing Strip, which provided essential access to these isolated peaks and canyons in the decades following the initial rushes.

The Middle Fork Salmon River and South Fork Salmon River carve through a terrain defined by massive ridges like Rainbow Ridge and prominent summits such as Big Baldy. For those tracing local history or public land management, the locations of the Krassel Ranger Station and Yellow Pine Guard Station show the established presence of the Payette National Forest and Boise National Forest by the early 1980s. Natural features like Warm Lake and Vulcan Hot Springs serve as significant landmarks within the extensive Salmon River Of No Return Wilderness boundary.