1991 Map of Fossil Lake

About this map

High-altitude alpine hydrology and glaciated terrain define this region along the border of Montana and Wyoming. The map captures a complex network of glacial basins where the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness spans three major federal jurisdictions, including the Custer National Forest and Gallatin National Forest. Water is the dominant feature of this landscape, from the massive Upper Aero Lake and Lower Aero Lake in the northwest to the intricate cluster of smaller bodies like Fossil Lake, Medicine Lake, and Lake of The Woods. High peaks and ridges like Mount Rosebud, Oxide Mountain, and Mount Dewey separate these drainage basins, which feed the headwaters of the Broadwater River and Rosebud Creek. The map provides a detailed record of the physical geography of the Beartooth Plateau, including a notable Snowfield near the Wyoming state line and the prominent Rock Island Butte in the southern sector.