2017 Map of Cliff Lake

About this map

Cliff Lake and Wade Lake dominate this high-elevation landscape within the Beaverhead National Forest, illustrating a complex network of glacial and volcanic terrain features. The survey highlights a series of distinctive geological benches and ridges, including Wade Lake Bench, Bogus Bench, and Island Ridge, which frame the deep basins of the lakes. The Madison River flows through the northeastern sector, joined by tributaries such as Butte Creek and Curlew Creek. Notable for its ecological preservation, the Cliff Lake RNA encompasses significant portions of the shoreline. Human infrastructure is limited to primitive access routes and ranch-related landmarks like Morgans Salt Box and Elk Meadows Ranch Rd, reflecting the area's primary use for timber management and wilderness recreation. The presence of numerous springs, such as 11S01E13DBB_01 Spring, underscores the vital hydrography that sustains the local ecosystem and the West Fork Madison River.