1968 Map of Vinegar Hill

About this map

Vinegar Hill dominates the central landscape of this section of Beaverhead County, surrounded by a complex network of high-altitude drainages. In the late 1960s, this area was characterized by its water resources, with Price Creek and Box Springs serving as key landmarks in the northern reaches. The terrain is defined by the sharp descent of seasonal and perennial streams, including Little Sage Creek and Teddy Creek, which carve through the high country. To the south, Basin Creek marks the lower elevations. The map reveals the placement of numerous unnamed Spring and Springs, which were essential for both the local ecosystem and the limited cattle ranching that utilized this open range. This document preserves the precise topography of the Montana backcountry before more modern land-use changes, emphasizing the fundamental relationship between the high ridges and the vital water sources that sustained the region.