2005 Map of Elkhorn Hot Springs

About this map

Beaverhead National Forest defines the character of this mountain landscape, which by 2005 remained a rugged intersection of recreational space and old mineral extraction. The small settlement at Elkhorn Hot Springs and the nearby Elkhorn Hot Springs Guard Station stand as central landmarks, while the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway provides the primary artery through the high country. Historical mining activity is heavily concentrated in the northeast, where the Old Elkhorn Mine, Park Mine, and the site of Coolidge point to a legacy of hard-rock prospecting. The distribution of high-altitude lakes, including Sawtooth Lake, Anchor Lake, and Polaris Lake, tucked beneath peaks like Comet Mountain and Alturas No 2 Mountain, illustrates a terrain largely shaped by its steep relief. For the historian, the various trails like Wellman Trail and Rubarb Trail branching off from the main roads offer a way to trace the accessibility of these remote timber and mining claims.