1950 Map of Sphinx Mountain

About this map

The high ridges of the Madison Range dominate this 1950s survey of south-central Montana. The landscape is defined by the sharp elevations of Sphinx Mtn and Koch Peak, which divide the watershed of the Gallatin River from the headwaters of the Madison River drainage. At this time, the backcountry was managed through a network of remote outposts, including the Big Spring Ranger Sta and the Cache Creek Ranger Sta. These stations, along with the Wapiti Ranger Sta, served as critical hubs for forest management within the Gallatin National Forest. The map documents a working landscape of high-country ranching and early outdoor recreation, notably at the Nine Quarter Circle Ranch and the Ousel Falls Campground. Small family operations like the Michel Ranch and Smith Ranch appear near the river valleys, while trails such as the Eldridge Trail provided the primary access through the high basins.