1956 Map of Wiseman

About this map

Wiseman and Coldfoot serve as the primary human outposts in this expansive stretch of the northern interior, positioned along the Middle Fork Koyukuk River. Compiled from aerial photography and digital data, the map illustrates the complex drainage basins of the Alatna River and John River as they flow south from the Brooks Range. The landscape is dominated by the Endicott Mountains, with much of the territory protected within the Gates of the Arctic National Park. Transportation is defined by the Dalton Highway corridor, which traces the eastern valleys, providing a stark contrast to the primitive Winter Trail routes and isolated Landing Strip locations used to access the remote wilderness. Numerous family-named peaks and domes, such as Smith Dome and Vermont Dome, suggest a history of prospecting and local land-use that predates the modern park boundaries.