2011 Map of Cirque Lake

About this map

The Browns Gulch Mining District and the area around Summit reveal a landscape defined by intensive subterranean exploration in the mountains of Madison County. This 2011 survey documents a dense cluster of extraction sites, including the Easton-Pacific Mine, Nelson Mine, and the General Shafter Mine. The terrain is deeply incised by drainages such as Greybacke Gulch and French Gulch, which shaped the placement of local routes like Alder Gulch Rd. High-altitude features like Baldy Mountain and Cirque Lake mark the transition from industrial activity to the headwaters of the North Fork Greenhorn Creek and Wigwam Creek. The concentration of named mines, from the Montana Twister Mine to the Kearsage Mine, highlights the historical significance of this region to Montana's mineral history, preserving the names of individual claims and established districts alike.