Loading map...

1966 Map of Howard Lake

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Howard Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

The Cabinet Mountains define this high-elevation landscape along the boundary of the Kootenai National Forest and Kaniksu National Forest. In the mid-1960s, this area of the Lincoln and Sanders County line remained a center for mineral prospecting and backcountry travel. Numerous mining operations are documented across the slopes of Great Northern Mountain and Twin Peaks, including the American Kootenai Mine, Midas Mine, and the Gloria Mine.

Transport through this steep terrain relied heavily on a network of established routes like the Libby Divide Trail and various unnamed pack trails that connected alpine water bodies. Significant lakes such as Wanless Lake, Howard Lake, and the Geiger Lakes sit at the headwaters of Libby Creek and Ramsey Creek, illustrating the glacial hydrology of the wilderness. The inclusion of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Boundary reflects the era's evolving land management and conservation priorities.