1990 Map of Purgatory Saddle

About this map

Seven Devils Mountains dominate this high-elevation landscape within the Hells Canyon Wilderness and Payette National Forest. This 1990 provisional survey records a region defined by dramatic vertical relief, where alpine lakes like Emerald Lake, Satan Lake, and Crystal Lake are tucked into glacial basins. The map illustrates a history of early 20th-century exploration and resource extraction, evidenced by the Iron Springs (Site) and the Black Imp mine. Local movement through this difficult terrain is marked by named crossings such as Purgatory Saddle, Stevens Saddle, and Holbrook Saddle. The concentration of small water bodies, including Six Lake Basin and Black Lake, suggests a landscape shaped by persistent snowmelt and high-altitude drainage patterns, serving as the headwaters for several tributaries of the West Fork Rapid River and Granite Creek.