1964 Map of Sykes Spring

About this map

Bighorn Mountain and the deep incisions of Sykes Canyon dominate this landscape along the border of Wyoming and Montana. The 1960s marked a significant period of transformation for this terrain, as the Bighorn River was being impounded to form the Yellowtail Reservoir. Map details show the early development of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, including a distinctive river curve at Horseshoe Bend. Water management is central to the area's utility, evidenced by the Dew and Duffield Ditch and several named water sources like Britton Spring and Sykes Spring. Geologic exploration is present through scattered prospect markings and a quarry, while the drainage of Crooked Creek and Gypsum Creek illustrates the complex erosion patterns typical of this arid, high-relief environment.