1896 Map of Crandall Creek

About this map

The Sunlight Mining Region sits at the heart of this high-altitude landscape within the Absaroka Range, surveyed in 1893 just as interest in precious metals was reaching these peaks. The map reveals a land defined by dramatic geology and early conservation efforts, with large swaths designated as part of the Yellowstone Park Forest Reservation. Evidence of glaciation is clear in the Frozen Lakes and Beartooth Lake in the north, while the Clark Fork cuts a massive path through the Clark Fork Canyon. Named landmarks such as Stinkingwater Peak and Dead Indian Peak suggest a landscape deeply tied to indigenous history and early exploration. Remote basins like Sunlight Basin and Hoodoo Basin provide crucial context for the topography encountered by miners and surveyors in this era before modern access.