2023 Map of Short Creek

About this map

The Lost River Range and Donkey Hills define this high-elevation landscape in Custer County, where complex drainage systems descend toward the valleys. Water is the primary marker of life in this arid terrain, with numerous named sources such as Middle Spring, Iron Spring, and Short Creek Spring Number 1 sustaining the watershed. The southern portion of the map is protected within the Challis National Forest, indicating a management boundary that preserves the area's wild character. Movement through this remote country is limited to established routes like Burnt Creek Rd and the Long Lost Creek Trl. Indigenous place names including Pia Soko Katete and Pia Soko Paatettopal provide a deeper layer of cultural identification for specific terrain features alongside standard hydrologic labels like Elkhorn Creek and Dry Creek.