2017 Map of Fossil Lake

About this map

The intersection of the Custer National Forest, Gallatin National Forest, and Shoshone National Forest creates a high-altitude wilderness where the Montana-Wyoming border meets at the divide between Park and Carbon counties. This 2017 survey shows a landscape defined by an immense density of alpine water bodies, ranging from the large Upper Aero Lake and Lower Aero Lake in the west to the cluster of Sky Top Lakes and Fossil Lake in the north-central reach. Topographical landmarks like Mt Rosebud, Mt Dewey, and Oxide Mtn frame the basins. The map illustrates a complex drainage system where small lakes like Stepping Stone Lake, Looking Glass Lake, and Lake of the Winds are connected by unnamed creeks and steep elevation drops. The presence of numerous surveyed land blocks, such as PB 37 and PB 42, indicates the historical management of these forest lands.