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1998 Map of Elk Rock

Name: 1998 Topographic Map of Elk Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2003
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2003

About this map

The Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument defines this late-twentieth-century landscape, illustrating a terrain profoundly reshaped by volcanic activity. The map reveals the recovery and management of the area within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, where the Mud Flow deposits along the North Fork Toutle River serve as a stark reminder of the 1980 eruption. Several newly formed or significantly altered water bodies, including Coldwater Lake and Castle Lake, are central features of the topography, now integrated into the Coldwater Lake Recreation Area.

Human infrastructure focused on tourism and geological study is evident at the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center and the Castle Lake Viewpoint. Industrial use is limited to scattered quarries, while the natural drainage system of Shultz Creek, Hoffstadt Creek, and Studebaker Creek continues to carve through the volcanic debris. The prominent peak of Elk Rock stands as a primary landmark overlooking the transformed river valley.