2024 Map of Markle Pass

About this map

Markle Pass serves as a geographic threshold between the Cabinet Mountains to the west and the Salish Mountains to the east. This section of Sanders County is defined by the transition from high peaks like Schmitz Mtn down into the Camas Prairie Basin and the meandering course of the Little Bitterroot River. Local history is anchored by the Markle Cem and the Hot Springs Airport, which sit near the junction of several rural routes including Prongua Rd and Ratcliff Rd. The landscape is a network of water and terrain, where Wilks Gulch drains toward the river and the Schmitz Lakes occupy high basins. The map illustrates a contemporary rural landscape where established ranch roads like Big Gulch Rd follow the natural contours of the Montana foothills.