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1969 Map of Upper Priest Lake

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Upper Priest Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

Upper Priest Lake dominates the southeastern quadrant of this remote northern Idaho landscape, serving as a focal point for the surrounding Kaniksu National Forest. The geography is defined by a dense network of waterways feeding into the Upper Priest River, including Hughes Fork and Trapper Creek. Historical activity in the area is marked by several mineral prospects, such as the Mountain Chief Mine, Plowboy Mine, and Navigation Mine, which are situated near the lake's western and northern shores.

Resource management and recreational infrastructure are evident through the Hughes Meadows Rgr Station and a series of backcountry sites like Plowboy Campground. High-elevation landmarks like the Lookout Tower on Hughes Ridge and the summit of Gold Peak provided essential vantage points for fire surveillance and forest navigation in an era before widespread modernization. The map also traces various Pack Trails, emphasizing the area's history as a place accessible primarily by water or rugged overland routes.