1997 Map of Boulder Lakes

About this map

Kootenai National Forest dominates this landscape in Lincoln County, where the high ridges of Purcell Summit and Boulder Mountain define the drainage patterns of the northern Rockies. The area serves as a critical watershed for the complex river systems of the region, featuring the headwaters of the North Fork Boulder Creek and the deep incisions of Knife Gulch. Human presence is minimal and focused on resource management, marked by the remote Big Creek Cabin and the Vinal Creek Trail which provides access through the timbered slopes. The geography is characterized by its high-elevation basins, most notably the Boulder Lakes, and the convergence of several major tributaries including the Little North Fork Big Creek and South Fork Big Creek. This 1997 revision highlights the intricate network of forest service roads and trails used for managing these protected public lands.