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1986 Map of Tower Junction

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Tower Junction
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Yellowstone River and Lamar River converge in this northern section of Yellowstone National Park, carving through the dramatic geography of the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone. This 1980s provisional survey highlights a landscape defined by volcanic and glacial history, featuring the Petrified Tree and the thermal activity at Calcite Springs. The map documents the primitive transportation network of the era, from the junction at Tower Junction to the numerous Pack Trails that weave through the Washburn Range.

Historically significant locations like Yanceys are recorded alongside prominent landmarks such as Junction Butte and The Needle. The map provides a detailed view of the terrain before modern park infrastructure expansion, capturing the relationship between the rugged canyons and natural features like Tower Fall and Lost Creek Falls. The transition from the high Buffalo Plateau down to the Pleasant Valley floor illustrates the extreme verticality and complex hydrology of the Park County backcountry.