1963 Map of Sourdough Peak

About this map

Sourdough Lookout stands as a sentinel atop Sourdough Peak, anchoring this topographic study of the central Nezperce National Forest as it appeared in the early 1960s. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of drainages and high points, including the aptly named Baking Powder Mountain and Bull Elk Ridge. Human presence in this high-elevation wilderness is sparse, marked primarily by the primitive Santiam Jeep Trail and various trails that trace the divides between drainages like Johns Creek and Sourdough Creek. To the south, the topography drops toward Twin Lakes and the steep slopes of Square Mountain, while Bear Grass Ridge defines the southeastern boundary. The map captures a moment in Idaho's forest management history, shortly after the 1962 aerial photogrammetry was conducted and before later decades of backcountry development or shifts in recreational use.