2011 Map of Bear Trap Creek

About this map

Mining operations and ranching properties define this 2011 survey of Madison County, Montana. The serpentine course of the Madison River serves as the central geographic feature, crossed by the Madison River Bridge near the Beartrap Recreation Area. The landscape is marked by a legacy of extraction, with numerous specific claims including the Morning Star Mine and Copper King Mine dotting the terrain. Further north, the Moore Ranch family of operations, such as Moore Ranch Number 1 Mine, indicate clustered industrial activity in the vicinity of Red Mountain. Evidence of high-country ranching persists through locations like Stephens Ranch along Cold Spring Creek, while the eastern reaches are drained by Pole Creek and the West Fork Pole Creek. This map captures a specific moment in the land use of the Bear Trap Creek drainage, balancing recreation, resource extraction, and traditional Montana ranching.