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1968 Map of Gateway Pass

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Gateway Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The Continental Divide serpentines through this remote Montana landscape, marking the high-altitude boundary between the Flathead National Forest and the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The map is dominated by the protected expanse of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, where travel was restricted to a network of historic routes like the South Pack Trail and the Birch Creek Trail. Key landmarks honor the region's exploration history, notably Mount Patrick Gass and Mount Drewyer, both named for members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Evidence of human presence is minimal, centered primarily on the isolated Gateway Cabin and the narrow passage of Gateway Pass. Drainage patterns are defined by the headwaters of the South Fork Birch Creek and the Middle Fork Birch Creek, which carve deep valleys between high peaks like Crooked Mountain and Bighorn Mountain. The geography is characterized by high alpine basins such as Big River Meadows and the dramatic Gateway Gorge, offering a detailed view of the wilderness state prior to the 1980s.