1961 Map of Spirit Lake West

About this map

Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes dominate this mountain landscape, which was meticulously field-checked in 1961. The shoreline economy is evident through recreational outposts like Silver Beach, Echo Beach, and Silver Sands Beach, while the surrounding timberland is split between the Kaniksu National Forest and Coeur d'Alene National Forest. Transportation history is etched into the terrain via the Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad and an Old Railroad Grade winding south of the upper lakes. Numerous drainages such as West Fork Birch Creek, Breakfast Creek, and Dinner Creek feed into the basins from peaks like Larch Mtn. The map documents a specific moment in local hydrology, recording precise water elevations and the presence of a Heliport and several Gravel Pits used for forest and road maintenance.