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1968 Map of Rising Sun

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Rising Sun
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Saint Mary Lake serves as the central anchor of this 1968 photogrammetric survey, its turquoise waters punctuated by Wild Goose Island and flanked by massive peaks. The Going-to-the-Sun Road follows the northern shoreline, providing access to landmarks like Rising Sun and Sunrift Gorge. The mapping reveals a landscape shaped by high-altitude hydrology, with numerous cascades such as Baring Falls, Virginia Falls, and Rose Falls draining the surrounding basins.

Backcountry infrastructure is well-documented, showing a network of paths including the Siyeh Pass Trail and Triple Divide Trail. High points like Little Chief Mountain and Mahtotopa Mountain define the horizon, while smaller features like the Patrol Cabin and the Golden Stairs indicate the foot-traffic routes used by early park rangers and visitors before the mid-century expansion of modern tourist facilities.