1963 Map of Pole Mtn

About this map

St Joe National Forest and Clearwater National Forest meet at a high mountain boundary defined by the divide between Shoshone and Clearwater counties. This 1963 field-checked study shows a landscape dominated by dramatic vertical relief, reaching its height at Pole Mtn, Surveyors Peak, and Otter Peak. The absence of roads is notable, with the terrain instead navigated by a historical Pack Trail and the My Pack Trail that cross the ridges. To the south, high-elevation waters like Cliff Lake, Slide Lake, and Steve Lake sit below the sharp drop of Avalanche Ridge. The drainage pattern is complex, with named waterways such as Sawtooth Creek, Ruby Creek, and Frost Creek carving deep into the forest interior, illustrating the remote and untouched character of this Idaho backcountry before later development or modern access.