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1989 Map of Esmeralda Hill

Name: 1989 Topographic Map of Esmeralda Hill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this 1989 topographic study of the Helena National Forest, straddling the border of Lewis and Clark and Powell counties. The landscape is defined by its deep drainages and mineral history, with numerous prospects, a mine shaft, and an adit located near Ophir Creek. This high-elevation terrain contains unique features like Ophir Cave and Esmeralda Hill, illustrating the remote character of the Montana backcountry during the late twentieth century.

Water sources are vital markers in this environment, including Lois Lake, Pauly Springs, and a network of named springs such as Dana, Cayuse, and Polly. The map records a transition in transportation, showing the primitive Carpenter Road alongside various 4WD trails and a pack trail that trace the routes used by miners and foresters. Significant gulches like Uncle Ben Gulch and Charity Gulch feed into Deadman Creek and Cottonwood Creek, forming the intricate watershed of the Rocky Mountains.