1909 Map of Sapphire

About this map

The Sapphire Mountains dominate this 1909 survey, defining a high-country divide where the Ravalli and Granite county lines meet. This landscape at the turn of the century shows a convergence of major federal lands, including the Lolo National Forest, Bitterroot National Forest, and Deer Lodge National Forest. Water is the primary architect of the region's geography, with the headwaters of the Burnt Fork and Rock Creek carving deep drainages. High-altitude basins and meadows provide a distinct contrast to the steep ridges, notably at Sand Basin and Moose Meadows. The map reveals early 20th-century hydrology and land management, tracing numerous gulches such as Anaconda Gulch and Scotchman Gulch that hint at the era's prospecting and grazing activity.