1966 Map of Swan Valley

About this map

The Snake River flows through the center of this mountain valley, where the small agricultural settlements of Swan Valley and Irwin are concentrated along the riverbanks. Photogrammetric methods from 1965 capture the community structure at a time when the Swan Valley Cemetery and the Chapel in the Valley served as central local landmarks. The landscape is sharply defined by the transition from the flat Pine Creek Bench and Palisades Bench to the high elevations of the Targhee National Forest and Caribou National Forest. Numerous canyons, such as Rainey Creek and Pine Creek, cut through the terrain, while landmarks like the Ranger Station and various Storage Bins reflect the area's forest management and agricultural storage needs. A network of primitive routes including the Indian Trail and Pack Trail suggests the area's continued reliance on traditional paths into the high backcountry of Ross Peak and Baldy.