2014 Map of Bison Canyon

About this map

Deerlodge National Forest blankets this section of Jefferson County, where the topography is defined by a dense network of gulches and high meadows. The settlement of Elk Park sits at the southern entrance to the steep-walled Bison Canyon, while Basin is situated at the northern edge. The landscape is a high-altitude drainage system, with the N Fork Little Boulder River and the Little Boulder River cutting through narrow valleys between prominent peaks like Sullivan Mtn and Mt Pisgah. Numerous named clearings, such as Hidden Meadows and Berrys Meadows, suggest a history of seasonal grazing or high-country activity. The geography is marked by a series of long drainages like Sullivan Gulch and Gray Gulch that feed into the larger river systems, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Continental Divide region.