1940 Map of Mt Cowen

About this map

Gallatin National Forest dominates this topographic study, where the Boulder River carves through the high elevations of Park County. Surveyed between 1938 and 1940, the map details a wilderness landscape defined by high peaks and an intricate network of drainage basins. Notable summits like Mt Cowen, Black Mtn, and Carbonate Mtn tower over alpine features such as Jewel Lake and Trapper Lake. This era represents a time when accessibility was limited to specialized infrastructure like the End Lookout and high-altitude crossings such as Mill Creek Pass and Silver Pass. The presence of named water sources like Agate Springs and the expansive Boulder Plateau illustrates the remote character of the Montana backcountry before modern development, preserved here as a snapshot of its mid-century state.