1961 Map of The Arch

About this map

The Arch and Otter Mountain dominate the high terrain of this portion of the Lewis and Clark National Forest in the early 1960s. The landscape is defined by a series of steep drainages, including Crow Coulee, McCarthy Coulee, and Shannon Coulee, which cut through the Judith Basin region. This topographic survey documents the local extraction economy through labels for the Nailer Mine and Chambers Mine, alongside a Gravel Pit and several unnamed trails and pipelines that cross the northern sections. The orientation of Big Otter Creek and Old Geyser Creek illustrates the complex drainage patterns feeding into the larger basin system. Historical researchers can trace the early infrastructure of the forest boundary, where primitive routes like the Jeep Trail provide the primary access through the timbered slopes and coulees.