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1960 Map of Sawbill Camp

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Sawbill Camp
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Superior National Forest encompasses this wilderness region of Cook County, surveyed here during the late 1950s. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of interconnected waterways, where larger bodies like Crescent Lake and Rice Lake are surrounded by smaller, uniquely named ponds such as Manymoon Lake, Gossip Lake, and Dogtrot Lake. Transportation through this dense woodland is limited to a few key corridors, notably Sawbill Road and the Old Grade Railroad, which reflect the area's history of timber management and remote access.

Sawbill Camp and the Baker Lake Campground serve as the primary human outposts in this territory, marking the transition from primitive road access to the interior lake system. The presence of several Gravel Pits along the main roads highlights the infrastructure required to maintain routes through the forest. For researchers, the map documents the mid-century state of the Boundary Waters periphery, showing the established trails and portages that link features like Temperance River Lake and Baker Lake.