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1961 Map of Red Canyon

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Red Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Sweetwater Basin dominates this landscape along the border of Madison and Beaverhead counties, characterized by a complex network of drainages and seasonal water sources. The Ball Ranch represents the primary human footprint in this high-elevation terrain, situated near the confluence of Sweetwater Creek and its northern forks. The map reveals a land defined by water management and access, featuring remote Springs, Virginia Springs, and Crazy Springs Creek.

Tracing the path of the Sweetwater Road as it winds through the basin provides insight into the historic transit corridors between these mountainous ranges. The transition from the deep cuts of Red Canyon and Wood Canyon to the prominent rise of Timber Hill illustrates the varied topography of this Montana rangeland in the early 1960s. This survey records the ranching infrastructure and hydrological features that sustained life in this expansive high-country environment.