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1965 Map of Stuart Peak

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Stuart Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Lolo National Forest dominates this mid-1960s survey of the high country north of Missoula, where the Flathead Indian Reservation Boundary cuts across the northern ridges. The landscape is a network of glacial basins and high summits, including McLeod Peak, Murphy Peak, and Stuart Peak. This era captures the early development of recreational infrastructure, specifically the Missoula Snow Bowl in the southwest corner, complete with its ski tow and a Radio Facility atop Point Six.

Transport through these steep drainages is defined by historic routes like the Grant Creek Pack Trail, which provided access to the high lakes long before modern road development. The map meticulously records the alpine hydrology of the region, from the cluster of Finley Lakes and Sanders Lake to the dramatic Farmers Falls at the head of High Lakes. This document is essential for understanding the transition of the Missoula backcountry from a purely timber and watershed resource to a primary recreational destination.