2024 Map of Howard Lake

About this map

The Cabinet Mountains Wilderness defines this high-elevation corner of Montana, where the boundaries of the Kootenai National Forest and Kaniksu National Forest converge. This 2024 survey captures a landscape dominated by dramatic peaks and alpine basins, including the heights of Great Northern Mountain and Carney Peak. The presence of the Wayup Mine and its associated Wayup Mine Trl signifies the historic prospecting and extraction efforts that once reached into these formidable mountains. A network of glacial lakes, such as Wanless Lake, Howard Lake, and Bramlet Lake, feeds numerous drainage systems including West Fisher Creek and Ramsey Creek. The map also details the administrative divide between Lincoln and Sanders counties as it traverses high ridges like the Libby Divide. This modern record is essential for tracing the legacy of mountain trail networks and mining claims within the protected wilderness areas.