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2017 Map of Hilgard Peak

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Hilgard Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

Hilgard Peak stands as the dramatic centerpiece of this high-elevation terrain within the Madison Range, straddling the border between Beaverhead National Forest and Gallatin National Forest. The landscape is defined by its dense concentration of glacial cirque lakes and towering summits, such as Imp Peak and Sentinel Peak. Navigation through the area follows natural corridors like Expedition Pass, which connects disparate drainages across the divide.

Water systems originate here from numerous small basins, including the Hilgard Basin and its surrounding clusters like Thunderbolt Lake, Comet Lake, and Blue Paradise Lake. This network of high-country water feeds several forks, including N Fork Hilgard Cr and S Fork Hilgard Cr, illustrating a complex alpine hydrology typical of this portion of southwest Montana. The proximity of Dutchman Peak and Echo Peak to these clustered tarns highlights the geological intensity of the range.