Loading map...

2023 Map of Fossil Canyon

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Fossil Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Bear River meanders through the high valley of southeastern Idaho, carving a wide path between the Bear River Range and the Aspen Range. This landscape is defined by the transition from the irrigated agricultural lands of Nounan Valley and Manson to the steep, canyon-cut slopes of the Caribou National Forest. The presence of Swan Lake Reservoir and Cranes Reservoir highlights the importance of water management in this high-altitude environment, where mountain runoff is captured for the valley floor.

Deep drainage systems such as Fossil Canyon, Jones Canyon, and Rattlesnake Canyon create a complex topography that has long dictated movement through the region. The map reveals a network of primitive routes and pack trails, including the Fossil Canyon Trl and the North-Big Basin Spur Trl, which climb toward Georgetown Summit. This 2023 survey provides a clear view of the balance between the valley's settlement and the surrounding protected forest lands.