2017 Map of Profile Gap

About this map

Payette National Forest dominates this high-elevation landscape, where the Idaho wilderness is defined by sharp vertical relief and a dense network of glacial basins. The namesake Profile Gap serves as a critical high mountain pass between the Profile Creek and Big Creek drainages, flanked by prominent summits like Profile Peak and Willson Peak. The terrain is characterized by numerous alpine water bodies, including Crater Lake, Profile Lake, and Fish Lake, which feed the various forks of S Fork Elk Creek and Quartz Creek. This area illustrates the complex topography of the Salmon River Mountains, where drainage patterns are dictated by massive landforms like Quartz Ridge and Missouri Ridge. The survey captures the remote character of the region, where transportation is limited to the single Big Creek Rd and the surrounding wilderness remains largely roadless.