2024 Map of Black Mountain

About this map

The high alpine Divide between the Salmon National Forest and Challis National Forest defines this high-elevation area of Lemhi and Custer counties. Centered on the prominent Black Mtn, the landscape is a network of drainage basins and ridges, including Woods Peak and Van Horn Peak. The map documents a sophisticated trail and road system essential for wilderness access, such as the Van Horn Trl and the Castle/Alder Creek Trl, which connect the remote summits to the valley floors. Water resources are plentiful, with small alpine basins like Cougar Lake and the Castle Lakes feeding into larger systems like Panther Creek and Morgan Creek. The inclusion of family-named landmarks like Sams Gulch, Hogan Gulch, and Annie Rooney Creek provides a genealogical layer to this backcountry terrain, reflecting early prospecting or ranching activity in the Central Idaho wilderness.