1996 Map of Upper Priest Lake

About this map

Upper Priest Lake dominates this northern Idaho landscape, sheltered within the Kaniksu National Forest and the Priest Lake State Forest. The map documents a rugged wilderness setting where industrial history and conservation meet, specifically within the Upper Priest Lake Scenic Area. Resource extraction is evident through several named sites near the shoreline, including the Plowboy Mine, Mountain Chief Mine, and a designated Prospect on the eastern slopes of Plowboy Mountain. To the west, the terrain rises toward Hughes Ridge, which features the Hughes Meadows Lookout Station and the Hughes Ridge Viewpoint. Drainage patterns are clearly defined by the Upper Priest River and its tributaries, such as Ruby Creek and Hughes Fork, which flow through deep glacial valleys. The boundary between Boundary and Bonner Counties bisects the northern half of the sheet, marking a significant administrative division in this high-elevation backcountry.