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1963 Map of Sliderock Ridge

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Sliderock Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Middle Fork Salmon River carves a significant course through this high-elevation landscape, where the boundaries of the Boise National Forest and Challis National Forest meet. The 1963 field check reveals a remote interior where human presence is concentrated at small outposts like the Little Creek Guard Station and the Cougar Creek Ranch. Aviation infrastructure is represented by the Mahoney Creek Airstrip near the river’s edge, providing critical access to this steep terrain.

Strategically positioned landmarks such as the Slide Rock Lookout atop Sliderock Ridge overlook a complex network of drainages, including Loon Creek, Doe Creek, and the multi-branched Sheep Creek. The map documents a wilderness economy of forest management and backcountry ranching, anchored by features like Jackass Flat and a riverside Campground. From the northern reaches of Sunflower Creek to the southern Blue Lake Creek, the survey provides a detailed record of the trails and waters that defined this part of Custer and Valley Counties during the mid-twentieth century.