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1960 Map of Shell Lake

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Shell Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Teepee Pole Flats and the high basins of the Big Horn National Forest define this 1960 field-checked survey. The landscape is characterized by a complex network of alpine water bodies, including Shell Lake, the clustered Lakes of the Rough, and Emerald Lake. These high-altitude features are connected by established backcountry routes such as the Edelman Trail and Solitude Trail, which navigate the steep divides of the Big Horn and Johnson County line.

Major drainages like Medicine Lodge Creek and Paint Rock Creek carve through the terrain, with notable crossings at Dutch Oven Pass and Geneva Pass. The map highlights the primitive infrastructure of the era, relying on a series of pack trails and jeep trails to reach remote landmarks such as Lake Geneva and Poacher Lake. This survey captures the wilderness character of the region before modern access or extensive development altered these high-mountain routes.