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1964 Map of West Fork Butte

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of West Fork Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

The Montana-Idaho state line bisects this 1960s survey, marking a high-elevation boundary through the Bitterroot Range. High points like Skookum Butte Lookout and West Fork Butte Lookout dominate the skyline, serving as critical observation posts for the Lolo National Forest and Clearwater National Forest. The map documents the primitive transportation network of the era, consisting largely of a Jeep Trail and Pack Trail system that provided access to these remote peaks and the drainage basins of Martin Creek and Cloudburst Creek.

Drainage patterns define the landscape, with the headwaters of the Brushy Fork and East Fork Lolo Creek carving deep valleys between ridges. Low-lying areas such as Lost Park Meadows and the shores of Granite Lake represent rare level ground in this steep environment. These specific landmarks, along with the Missoula and Idaho County line, provide essential geographic reference points for backcountry researchers and those tracing the history of mountain fire lookouts.