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1962 Map of Rattlesnake Mountain

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Rattlesnake Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

High peaks and named basins define this section of the Big Belt Mountains in the early 1960s. Baldy Mountain and Rattlesnake Mountain overlook a complex network of gulches and valleys, including the prominent Hilger Valley and McLeod Basin. The landscape is marked by isolated outposts of human activity, such as Payne Camp and the Old Synnes Ranch, suggesting a legacy of high-country ranching and seasonal habitation.

Evidence of local resource use is scattered throughout the drainages, from a Prospect near Trust-to-Luck Gulch to a Gravel Pit near the northern edge. Transport in this period was a mix of old and new, featuring a Jeep Trail winding through the interior while the Gates of the Mountains Interchange provided a modern link to the broader region. Water remains a critical feature of the terrain, with numerous named Springs feeding creeks like Clark Creek and Beartooth Creek.