1969 Map of Upper Priest Lake

About this map

Upper Priest Lake dominates the center of this terrain, its shoreline serving as a focal point for the surrounding Kaniksu National Forest. In the late 1960s, this area of Bonner County remained largely defined by its logging and mining history, evidenced by the presence of several prospect sites including the Plowboy Mine, Mountain Chief Mine, and Navigation Mine. These workings are situated near the western shore of the lake, below the heights of Plowboy Mountain. To the north, the Upper Priest River flows through a valley flanked by Hughes Ridge and Gold Peak, where high-altitude infrastructure like the Lookout Tower and Hughes Meadows Fire Station supported forest management. The presence of a Pack Trail and 4wd routes suggests a landscape accessible primarily by boat or primitive road, maintaining the isolation of remote landings like Navigation Campground.