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1959 Map of Tarkio

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Tarkio
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Lolo National Forest dominates this Montana landscape, where the Ninemile Divide separates the drainage basins of the north and south. In the late 1950s, the Clark Fork valley served as a vital transportation corridor, hosting both the Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and Northern Pacific railroads. Small rail-side communities like Tarkio and Rivulet provided points of access to the timber and mineral resources of the surrounding peaks.

Evidence of local industry is scattered throughout the drainages, including mines and tailings near McCormick Creek. Geographic landmarks such as Martel Mountain and Stark Mtn rise above a network of waterways including Nemote Creek and Ninemile Creek. The map also traces various routes into the backcountry, from the 4 Lane highway in the valley to old Pack Trails crossing the ridges between Mineral and Missoula counties.