2017 Map of Haystack Peak

About this map

Independence sits at the high-altitude western edge of this territory, marking a site of historic human presence within the expansive Gallatin National Forest. This section of the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness is defined by its dramatic crests, including Haystack Peak, Independence Peak, and Monument Peak. The drainage patterns here are complex, with the E Fork Boulder River and Columbine Cr carving through the high country, while high-altitude basins hold remote water bodies like Lake Kathleen and Burnt Gulch Lake. The map details the boundary line between Park and Sweet Grass Counties, illustrating how this political division follows the high ridges. Navigational points such as Boulder Pass and landmarks like Baboon Mtn provide essential orientation for researchers studying the alpine geography and land use of this Montana high country in the early twenty-first century.