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2023 Map of Mount Hilgard

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Mount Hilgard
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The High Sierra backcountry reaches its peak elevation and complexity at the intersection of the Sierra National Forest and Inyo National Forest. This high-altitude landscape is dominated by the Mono Divide and the towering presence of Mt Hilgard and Mt Julius Caesar. The drainage patterns of Bear Creek and its many forks create a glacial basin filled with over two dozen named alpine lakes, including the large Lake Italy and the cluster of Seven Gables Lakes.

Remote trails provide the only access through the John Muir Wilderness, most notably the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trl which traverses the western edge. Geographic landmarks like The Pinnacles and Seven Gables serve as prominent navigational aids for hikers crossing through Selden Pass or descending into Piute Canyon. The map records a wilderness largely unchanged by modern development, defined instead by its granite peaks and high meadows like Hutchinson Meadow.