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2020 Map of MacDonald Pass

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of MacDonald Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

MacDonald Pass serves as the central crossing point where the Continental Divide winds through the high country west of Helena. This landscape, protected within the Helena National Forest, is defined by a dense network of gulches and ridges that dictated historical movement through the Boulder Mountains. The path of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail traces the spine of the mountains, intersecting with the legacy of mountain travel at Frontier Town and Forest Heights.

The map reveals the intricate drainage patterns that feed the surrounding valleys, with MacDonald Cr and Tenmile Cr carving through the steep terrain. Named features such as Rich Spur Gulch, Mike Renig Gulch, and Bear Gulch indicate the long history of local prospectors and settlers who navigated these slopes. From the high point of Priest Pass down to the creek beds, the geography shows a rugged continuity of mountain pass life into the modern era.