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2011 Map of Esmeralda Hill

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Esmeralda Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Esmeralda Hill stands as a central high point in this 2011 topographical study of the mountainous landscape northwest of Helena. The region is defined by a dense network of gulches and drainages, including the aptly named Faith Gulch, Charity Gulch, and Hope Creek. This area of Lewis and Clark County exhibits a legacy of hard-rock mining and resource extraction, evidenced by the Earthquake Mine near Jerusha Gulch and the Shamrock Mine tucked into Pats Gulch.

Water management and ranching history are visible through features like the Christopher Columbus Dam and Snowshoe Dam, which control the flow of Snowshoe Creek. To the east, the Betor Ranch represents the agricultural footprint in these hills, while the Jerusha Millsite points to the processing side of the area's mineral history. A web of forest roads, such as Snowshoe Deadwood Rd and Clarks Canyon Rd, provides the primary access through the steep terrain and deep canyons like Clarks Canyon.