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1966 Map of Howard Lake

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Howard Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Cabinet Mountains high country of Northwest Montana is defined here by a mid-century mining landscape and the overlapping boundaries of the Kootenai National Forest and Kaniksu National Forest. Prospecting activity is heavily concentrated along the eastern slopes, with several named operations including the Midas Mine, Gloria Mine, and the American Kootenai Mine situated near the headwaters of Fisher Creek. These claims suggest a period of intense geological exploration in the rugged terrain between Great Northern Mountain and the Lincoln and Sanders county line.

Water and transport networks are primarily represented by a series of high-altitude lakes and pack trails. The Libby Divide Trail (Pack) and Fourth of July Trail (Pack) provide the primary access to remote water bodies like Howard Lake, Wanless Lake, and Geiger Lakes. The landscape is a network of ridges and passes, including Carney Pass and Lost Buck Pass, which facilitated movement through these protected wilderness areas before the expansion of modern road systems.