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1909 Map of Sapphire

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Sapphire
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The Sapphire Mountains dominate this 1906–1907 survey, which captures the intersection of three major Western timberlands: the Bitterroot National Forest, Lolo National Forest, and Deerlodge National Forest. This high country, straddling the boundary of Ravalli and Granite counties, is defined by an intricate network of drainages feeding into the Bitterroot River and Rock Creek. Small high-altitude lakes such as Mud Lake, Stony Lake, and Medicine Lake dot the divide, marking a landscape largely shaped by seasonal water and timber management.

Evidence of early 20th-century habitation is concentrated near the western edge at Rosemont, though much of the map reflects a wilderness of peaks and basins. Named landmarks like Dominic Buttes, Fox Peak, and Green Mtn provide essential reference points for early surveyors and foresters. The detailed mapping of numerous gulches, such as Windlass Gulch and Williams Gulch, suggests the area's importance for early prospecting and logging routes before more modern infrastructure was established.