1961 Map of Red Canyon

About this map

Sweetwater Basin dominates the northern reaches of this high-altitude landscape, where the administrative boundary between Madison and Beaverhead counties cuts across the mountains. The map reveals a sparse but functional ranching geography centered on the Ball Ranch near the upper course of Sweetwater Creek. This early 1960s survey documents a network of primitive access routes, including Sweetwater Road and various unnamed jeep trails, which connect isolated water sources vital for livestock, such as Virginia Springs, Crazy Springs Creek, and Wagner Creek. The topography is defined by the sharp descent of Red Canyon and Wood Canyon from the higher elevations of Timber Hill, illustrating the transition from open grazing basins to the dramatic ridgelines typical of this section of the Montana high country.