1969 Map of Upper Priest Lake

About this map

Upper Priest Lake dominates this 1969 topographic study of the northern Idaho panhandle, where the Upper Priest River flows through the heart of the Kaniksu National Forest. The map documents a rugged landscape defined by the Hughes Ridge and Kaniksu Mountain, while highlighting the early extractive and recreational history of the region. Prospectors and mining historians will find interest in the proximity of Plowboy Mine and the Mountain Chief Mine near the western shoreline, alongside the Navigation Mine. This era shows a forest service infrastructure still reliant on strategic high points like the Lookout Tower and the Hughes Meadows Fire Station. A network of primitive transit is preserved through numerous pack trails and a jeep trail, connecting remote landmarks like Hughes Meadows to lakeside facilities including Navigation Campground and Plowboy Campground.