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1951 Map of Sheephead Lake

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Sheephead Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Lake Superior State Forest covers this stretch of the Upper Peninsula, where the landscape transitions through the dense wetlands of the Whitefish region. Photogrammetric methods and 1950 aerial photography reveal a remote interior defined by the winding course of the Betsy River and its South Branch. The presence of the Prison Camp near the eastern margin and the Porcupine Inn along a forest trail suggests a specialized mid-century use of this northern wilderness, balancing state-managed labor and early seasonal recreation.

Water dominates the topography, from the expansive Sheephead Lake and the marshy reaches of Goose Marsh to smaller basins like Bear Lake and Betsy Lake. The boundary between Luce Co and Chippewa Co cuts through these woods, while features like The Widewaters and Browns Lake mark the northern drainage towards the Great Lakes. This map provides a clear record of the area's geography before significant modern development altered these forest access routes.