2023 Map of Vista Falls

About this map

Vista Falls and the West Branch Sturgeon Falls highlight a landscape dominated by the hydrological network of the Ottawa National Forest. This remote section of the Upper Peninsula, straddling the border of Ontonagon and Houghton counties, is defined by the West Branch Sturgeon River and its numerous tributaries. The map documents an intricate web of Forest Service trails and primitive roads, such as S Laird Rd and Nat For Dev Rd 1700, which provide the only overland access to the densely forested interior. The southeastern corner is anchored by the Sturgeon River Gorge Wilderness, where the terrain steepens around Tradition Creek and Gurgle Creek. The nomenclature of the waterways, including Perjury Creek, Humbug Creek, and Cliche Creek, suggests a storied history of early timber exploration and land surveying in this wilderness area.