1964 Map of Ward Mountain

About this map

Bitterroot National Forest dominates this mid-1960s terrain, where high-altitude peaks and glacial lakes define the landscape of Ravalli County. The area is divided by a significant Wilderness Boundary that separates the general forest land from the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, a designation reflecting the era's emerging conservation priorities. A remote Lookout Tower stands atop Ward Mountain, reached by the Ward Mountain Trail, serving as a vital sentinel for fire detection across the drainage basins of Roaring Lion Creek and Sawtooth Creek. The topography is exceptionally steep, characterized by dramatic drops such as Canyon Falls and isolated water bodies like Camas Lake and Kidney Lake. This map captures a pristine wilderness environment before modern digital mapping, where foot trails and lookout points were the primary means of navigating and monitoring the backcountry.