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2013 Map of Herd Lake

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Herd Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Challis National Forest dominates this mountain landscape, where complex drainage systems define the high-altitude topography of Custer County. The eponymous Herd Lake sits centrally, reached via the winding Herd Lake Rd, which provides the primary access through this steep section of the Salmon River Mountains. The hydrologic network is intricate, with several major streams including Herd Cr, Lake Cr, and Mosquito Cr carving deep valleys through the range.

Evidence of the area's geological character is found in named landforms like Hell Canyon and the high Lake Basin. Smaller drainages such as Pine Gulch, Bull Gulch, and Twin Bridges Cr highlight the varied elevations, while additional water sources like E Fork Herd Cr and W Fork Herd Cr feed into the larger river systems. This map captures a preserved wilderness where forest service roads and natural watercourses remain the defining features of human interaction with the land.