1998 Map of Blue Joint

About this map

The Bitterroot Mountains define this high-altitude landscape along the border of Idaho and Montana, where three major federal preserves meet. This 1998 revision, based on earlier surveys, illustrates the intersection of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the Bitterroot National Forest, and the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The map is dominated by the steep drainage basins of Blue Joint Creek and French Creek, which flow through heavily dissected terrain. Settlement is absent here, with the only modern infrastructure being the West Fork North Fork Rd entering the northeastern corner. Significant landmarks for backcountry navigation include Squaw Peak, Storm Ridge, and the Blue Joint peak, alongside small alpine features such as Reynolds Lake and Line Lake. The various county and state boundaries shown tracing the ridgelines underscore the isolation of this corner of the interior Northwest.