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1988 Map of Polaris

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Polaris
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

Grasshopper Creek flows through this corner of the Beaverhead National Forest, where high-altitude mining operations define the historical landscape. The settlement of Polaris sits in the valley at the foot of massive terrain features like Baldy Mountain and Black Mountain. This 1988 provisional edition captures the extensive network of resource extraction that once dominated the area, from the Silver King Mine and Old Faithful Mine to the numerous adits and prospects scattered across the slopes of Garrett Hill.

Evidence of ranching and early commerce is scattered throughout the region, marked by sites like Harrison Ranch and Mason in the lower reaches. Geographic curiosities like Old Faithful Spring and the Nick Preen Mines provide specific points of interest for local historians. The map also records water resources essential for both mining and livestock, including Scott Lake and Lockridge Spring, alongside several primitive 4WD tracks that follow the winding paths of Billings Creek and Farlin Creek into the backwoods.