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1997 Map of Polaris

Name: 1997 Topographic Map of Polaris
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2002
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2002

About this map

Mining and ranching define this high-elevation landscape within the Beaverhead National Forest. At the edge of the Grasshopper Valley, the settlement of Polaris sits near an extensive network of extraction sites including the Polaris Mine, the Silver King Mine, and a Tungsten Mill. These workings are concentrated along the slopes of the Pioneer Mountains, where numerous adits and mine shafts indicate decades of subsurface exploration.

The presence of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway highlights the region's significance for both heritage and transit. Beyond the industrial zones, the map details established land use at the Harrison Ranch and Swanson Cabin, while natural features like Old Faithful Spring and Baldy Mountain dominate the eastern topography. The drainage patterns of Grasshopper Creek and its many tributaries, such as Scudder Creek and Farlin Creek, provide the essential water source for this arid mountain environment.