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2014 Map of Emerald Lake

Name: 2014 Topographic Map of Emerald Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2014
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2014

About this map

Custer National Forest dominates this high-altitude landscape in Carbon and Stillwater counties, where the high-elevation Fishtail Plateau gives way to deep drainages. The area is defined by its complex glacial hydrology, featuring numerous alpine water bodies such as Emerald Lake, W Rosebud Lake, and the remote Lily Pad Lake. These water sources feed a network of creeks including W Rosebud Cr and the various forks of Fiddler Cr.

Tracing the northern reach of the Beartooth Mountains, the map shows the transition from the relatively accessible W Rosebud Rd to the steep walls of Black Canyon. The lack of structural development emphasizes the wilderness character of the region, where surveyors documented features like McDonald Basin and the high Crater Lake for forest management and hydrological monitoring. This survey captures the terrain as it existed before contemporary shifts in alpine water levels and forest usage.