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1991 Map of Painted Rocks Lake

Name: 1991 Topographic Map of Painted Rocks Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

Painted Rocks State Recreation Area centers this survey of the Montana high country, where the impounded waters of the West Fork Bitterroot River form Painted Rocks Lake. Held by the West Fork Dam, the reservoir is a primary focal point for recreation and water management within the broader Bitterroot National Forest. The map documents the interface between protected wilderness and developed access, featuring the Painted Rocks State Recreation Campground and Slate Creek Campground along the eastern shore.

Away from the water, the terrain is defined by significant ridgelines and pack routes, such as the Castle Rock Trail (Pack). Landmarks like Lookout Mountain, West Mountain, and Coal Ridge surround a network of drainages including Blue Joint Creek and Overwhich Creek. This 1991 provisional edition preserves the specific locations of saddles and gulches, providing a detailed record of the landscape before modern forest management or climatic shifts altered these remote Bitterroot corridors.