1965 Map of Quartz Creek Butte

About this map

Gifford Pinchot National Forest defines this high-elevation landscape in Skamania County, dominated by the drainage systems of the Lewis River and Tillicum Creek. In the mid-1960s, the area remained largely roadless, with a Pack Trail providing access across the northern slopes of Quartz Creek Butte. The map reveals a dramatic hydrology characterized by numerous vertical drops, including Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and the descriptively named Little Niagara Falls along the creek beds. Human activity is focused primarily on the Lewis River Campground and the monitoring infrastructure of a Gaging Station on the riverbank. From the alpine waters of Blue Lake in the northwest to the wetlands of Surprise Meadow and Big Mosquito Lake in the south, the topography reflects a primitive wilderness prior to extensive modern development.