1960 Map of Shell Falls

About this map

Bighorn National Forest dominates this landscape, where the dramatic descent of Shell Creek creates the centerpiece of Shell Canyon. This 1960 field-checked survey documents a transition in land use, showing established government infrastructure like the Shell Creek Ranger Sta alongside the growing recreational footprints of the Granite Creek Campground, Cabin Creek Campground, and Ranger Creek Campground. Public access is anchored by the Shell Falls Observation Point, situated where the water carves through steep limestone and granite walls. Higher elevations reveal a network of drainages including Brindle Creek, Grouse Creek, and the Dry Fork, which define the rugged geography near Copemans Tomb and Snowshoe Mountain. The map also captures the path of the primary road through the canyon, providing a precise record of how these remote forest lands were navigated and managed during the mid-twentieth century.