1960 Map of Tait Lake

About this map

Pat Bayle State Forest and Superior National Forest define the wild character of this Cook County landscape, where an intricate network of glacial lakes and river systems dominates the terrain. This 1960 survey, updated with 1976 revisions, shows the area as it appeared before heavy modern development, highlighting the central basin of Tait Lake and the winding course of the Tait River. The map reveals a remote geography shaped by water, from the larger Cascade Lake and Lake Clara to smaller, family-named or descriptive bodies like Mistletoe Lake, Lichen Lake, and Roast Lake. While the land is primarily managed for timber and conservation, the presence of a Campground and various Gravel Pit locations indicates the modest human footprint of logging and recreation during the mid-20th century. Topographic details, including depth curves for the major lakes, provide a rare look at the underwater contours of the North Shore hinterlands.