1961 Map of Spirit Lake West

About this map

Spirit Lake and the northern reaches of Twin Lakes anchor this landscape along the border of Bonner and Kootenai Counties. In the early 1960s, the shoreline communities of Silver Beach, Silver Sands Beach, Echo Beach, and Excelsior Beach reveal a region defined by seasonal recreation and timber. The rugged interior is dominated by the Kaniksu and Coeur d'Alene National Forests, where high points like Larch Mtn and Pitz Mtn overlook a network of drainages including Breakfast Creek and Poirrier Creek. Transportation history is etched into the terrain via the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad line near the town of Spirit Lake and an Old Railroad Grade that winds through the southern timberlands. The presence of a Heliport and various jeep trails reflects the logistical demands of forest management during this era.