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1956 Map of West Thumb

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of West Thumb
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Yellowstone Lake (West Thumb) serves as the focal point for this mid-century survey of the volcanic heart of the Wyoming backcountry. The landscape is defined by the hydrologic drama of the Continental Divide, where water separates toward the Pacific and Atlantic basins via the Lewis River and De Lacy Creek. Geothermal activity is prominent throughout the terrain, concentrated at the West Thumb Geyser Basin and the Potts Hot Spring Basin, as well as the more remote Heart Lake Geyser Basin near the base of Mount Sheridan.

Human presence is marked by a network of early park infrastructure, including the Grand Loop Road and the South Entrance Road. Interior areas remain accessible only by foot via the Howard Eaton Trail and the Heart Lake Trail. Local landmarks like the Aster Creek Patrol Cabin and Carrington Island suggest the long-standing management and conservation efforts within Yellowstone National Park during the 1950s.