2020 Map of Mount Ellis

About this map

Gallatin National Forest dominates this section of the Gallatin Range, where the landscape is defined by deep drainages and high peaks. The terrain rises sharply to summits like Mt Ellis and Francham Mtn, while the hydrology of the area is anchored by Mystic Lake and the various branches of Bozeman Creek. The map reveals a complex network of backcountry routes, including the Triple Tree Trail and the Mystic Lake Cutoff, which facilitate movement through the steep elevation changes. Of particular interest to local historians and naturalists are the named mineral licks, such as Moser Lick, Upper Wildhorse Lick, and Lower Wildhorse Lick, which suggest long-standing patterns of wildlife activity and perhaps early hunting or surveying landmarks. The presence of Chestnut Mtn and various gulches like New World Gulch indicates a landscape heavily influenced by both its geological formation and its later naming by those who worked or explored these canyons.