2024 Map of Jewel Basin

About this map

The Swan Range forms the backbone of this portion of the Flathead National Forest, where the complex topography of high-altitude basins and ridges defines the landscape. The area is dominated by the Jewel Basin hiking area, a place where a network of trails like the Alpine 7 Trl and Jewel Lakes Trl connect a high density of alpine water bodies. From the heights of Mt Aeneas and Tongue Mtn, the drainage systems flow into creeks such as Wounded Buck Creek and Krause Creek. The presence of numerous named lakes, including the uniquely titled In-thlam-keh Lake, Martha Lake, and Lake Seven Acres, suggests a glacial history that carved these deep cirques and hanging valleys. Near the southern edge, the settlement of Bigfork sits at the base of the mountains where Station Creek and Rocky Creek descend from the high timber.