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2012 Map of Shell Lake

Name: 2012 Topographic Map of Shell Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2012
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2012

About this map

Shell Lake and Little Shell Lake lie at the heart of this high-elevation wilderness, where the drainage networks of Shell Cr and Medicine Lodge Cr define the northern alpine landscape. This 2012 survey captures a transition point in the high country, where seasonal access is anchored by the Lake Geneva Campground and a network of passes that cross the divide between watersheds. The map reveals a cluster of alpine water bodies including Emerald Lake, Devils Lake, and Lake Golden, which sit tucked beneath the ridges connecting Edelman Pass and Dutch Oven Pass.

To the south, the terrain levels out at Teepee Pole Flats, a prominent geographic bench above the deeply incised N Paint Rock Cr. This area provides a clear view of the complex hydrography feeding the larger river systems below, from the isolated Poacher Lake in the south to the headwaters of E Fork Big Goose Cr near Lake Geneva. The absence of developed roads emphasizes the character of this high-country environment, where travel is dictated by natural corridors like Geneva Pass and Canyon Cr.