2017 Map of Pelican Cone

About this map

Pelican Cone rises as a prominent landmark in this eastern reach of Yellowstone National Park, overlooking a landscape defined by active thermal features and high-altitude drainage basins. The map illustrates a concentration of hydrothermal activity, notably the Hot Spring Basin Group in the northwest and uniquely named features like The Mudkettles and The Mushpots further south. These labels signify the geologic instability and thermal volatility of the Absaroka Range foothills. Human presence is documented primarily through primitive access routes, including the Pelican Creek Trail and the Pelican Cone Trail, which navigate the complex network of waterways like Pelican Cr and Mirror Fork. This 2017 survey reflects a wilderness area where natural geothermal processes and the rugged hydrology of the Buffalo Fork headwaters remain the dominant forces.