Loading map...

1994 Map of Piper-Crow Pass

Name: 1994 Topographic Map of Piper-Crow Pass
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1996
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1996

About this map

The Mission Range forms a dramatic topographical divide in this mid-1990s survey, marking the intersection of the Flathead Indian Reservation and the Flathead National Forest. This high-altitude landscape is defined by its complex glacial hydrology, where numerous alpine basins hold named waters such as Terrace Lake, Ducharm Lake, and Upper Cold Lake. The Mission Mountains Wilderness boundary follows the sharp ridgelines, bisecting the quadrangle and separating the tribal lands to the west from the national forest to the east.

Evidence of traditional access and backcountry travel is centered on Piper-Crow Pass and the North Crow Creek Trail, which winds through Crow Canyon. This corridor provides a rare navigable route through the steep terrain, connecting the drainages of North Crow Creek and Piper Creek. The map also captures the precise geopolitical alignment of the Lake and Missoula County line as it tracks along the high peaks, including Goat Peak, illustrating how natural mountain barriers dictated administrative boundaries.