1963 Map of Wards Butte

About this map

Wards Butte stands as a central high point in this 1963 survey of the high-country border between Lemhi and Custer Counties. The landscape is defined by the meeting of the Salmon National Forest and Challis National Forest, where the complex drainage systems of Hat Creek and Morgan Creek carve deep through the terrain. Evidence of high-altitude accessibility is found in the network of Jeep Trails that wind through the peaks, providing access to remote locations like Hat Creek Lakes and various springs. The map documents a watershed-driven environment where numerous named tributaries such as Middle Fork Hat Creek, Big Hat Creek, and Sawmill Creek illustrate the natural geography of the Salmon River mountains before modern development altered these remote forest boundaries.