1966 Map of Thompson Peak

About this map

Irwin and the fertile Swan Valley occupy the southwestern corner of this survey, where the valley floor meets the steep rise of the Targhee National Forest. The landscape is defined by the drainage of Palisades Lake, with both the Lower Palisades Lake and Upper Palisades Lake tucked into deep canyons carved by mountain streams. A network of primitive transport routes, including numerous Pack Trails and a Jeep Trail, provides the only access into the high-altitude terrain of Paradise Basin and peaks such as Thompson Peak and Atkinson Peak. Evidence of local industry and resource use appears in place names like Limekiln Canyon and Sawmill Canyon, while recreation is established at the Palisades Creek Campground. The map illustrates the sharp transition from the flat agricultural lands of Palisades Bench to the jagged ridgelines of Rocky Ridge and Baldy Mtn.