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1965 Map of Rock Island Ranch

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Rock Island Ranch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Rock Island Ranch and the nearby Knox Ranch anchor this 1960s study of the high-altitude drainage systems in Beaverhead County. The landscape is defined by the convergence of the Little Sage Creek and East Sage Creek valleys, forming the primary Sage Creek basin. The topographic detail highlights the intricate network of canyons, including Big Spring Gulch and Little Spring Gulch, which reveal the importance of perennial water sources in this high pasture country.

A geothermal feature, identified simply as Hot Spring, appears near the head of a canyon, while the White Hills rise to the north. Movement through the area at this time relied on a series of Jeep Trails that skirted the ridges and followed the watercourses. This map documents a specialized ranching environment where water rights and access were dictated by the deep topography of Basin Creek and Burnt Willow Creek.