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1986 Map of Fossil Lake

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Fossil Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness defines this high-altitude landscape, where the borders of the Gallatin National Forest, CUSTER National Forest, and Shoshone National Forest converge. This 1986 survey documents a dense cluster of alpine lakes and dramatic peaks along the Montana-Wyoming state line. The map reveals an intricate network of water bodies, from the expansive Fossil Lake and Upper Aero Lake to smaller, curiously named features like No Bones Lake, Pneumonia Lake, and Looking Glass Lake.

Evidence of human activity is minimal, represented primarily by a Pack Trail that navigates the complex terrain between Middle Mountain and Bald Knob. The presence of a Camp ground near the forks of the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River suggests the area's role as a base for back-country exploration in the late twentieth century. Dominating the eastern skyline, Mount Rosebud and Mount Dewey stand as prominent landmarks in this protected mountain environment.