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1977 Map of Kelly Lake

Name: 1977 Topographic Map of Kelly Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Anaconda Pintlar Wilderness and the high peaks of the Anaconda Range dominate this mid-1970s survey, where the borders of Granite, Ravalli, Deer Lodge, and Beaverhead counties converge. This high-altitude landscape is defined by its glacial lakes, including Kelly Lake, Ivanhoe Lake, and Little Johnson Lake, which sit below prominent landmarks like Senate Mountain and Pintlar Peak. The presence of the Senate Mine near the northern edge suggests the legacy of mineral exploration that occurred even in these more isolated sections of the Deerlodge National Forest.

Transport through this terrain is limited to a network of established paths, such as the Alpine Trail and Kurtz Trail, connecting remote water features like Phyllis Lake and Bear Lake. The western portion of the map is marked by the headwaters of the Bitterroot River, featuring Star Falls, while the eastern side drops into the drainage of Middle Fork Rock Creek. This record captures a wilderness area managed by multiple national forests just as contemporary backcountry preservation efforts were being solidified.