1965 Map of Wilson Mountain

About this map

The San Francisco River cuts a deep, winding course through this section of the Gila National Forest in the mid-1960s, a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes and named high points. At the northern edge, the San Francisco Hot Springs and several other Hot Springs clusters are concentrated near a Gaging Station, indicating the hydrological significance of this river canyon. To the south, the topography transitions into the distinctively named Potholes Country and high summits like Wilson Mountain and Snow Peak. Evidence of ranching life in this high-desert environment is scattered throughout the survey, from the Zumwalt Ranch and Henry Ranch to an extensive network of water catchment systems such as Blacktail Tanks, Brandy Tree Tank, and Saddle Tank. Narrow drainages including Mule Creek, Cienega Creek, and the rocky passage of The Box drain these peaks, while a Jeep Trail provides the primary access through the southern valleys.