2020 Map of Methodist Creek

About this map

The Challis National Forest dominates the upper elevations of this terrain, where the peaks of the Lost River Range give way to a complex system of canyons and gulches. The landscape is defined by the transition from high mountain peaks like Invisible Mtn and Mahogany Gulch down into the expansive Big Lost River Valley. Human intervention in this arid environment is clearly marked by a sophisticated network of irrigation channels, including Fury Ditch, Hanson Ditch, Burnett Ditch, and Angelo Ditch, which redirect water from the mountain snowpack to the valley floor. These waterworks, alongside historic routes like the Bear-Wet Creek Trail and Pass Creek Rd, trace the legacy of ranching and land management in Custer and Butte counties. Small alpine features like Twin Lakes and Mud Lake provide essential water sources within the high-country drainage basins.