1946 Map of Trout Lake

About this map

The glacial landscape of Vilas County, Wisconsin, and the border of Gogebic County, Michigan, is defined here by an incredibly dense network of lakes and marshes shortly after the 1938 field examination. Centered on the community of Boulder Junction, the map illustrates a region transitioning from its logging roots into a recreational and forestry hub. Evidence of the New Deal era is visible at the CCC Camp near White Sand Lake, while the State Forest Headquarters on the shores of Trout Lake indicates the early management of these northwoods. Transportation is limited to a few arterial routes like the Trunk Highway, leaving vast tracts around Crab Lake and Big Crooked Lake accessible primarily by water or trail. Small settlements like Winegar and Ambleside are depicted alongside fire prevention infrastructure such as the Boulder Fire Tower, reflecting the vital importance of forest protection in this timber-rich borderland.