2023 Map of Smiley Mountain

About this map

Smiley Mtn dominates the center of this high-elevation landscape, where the jagged ridges of the Pioneer Mountains form a natural boundary between the Challis National Forest and Sawtooth National Forest. This modern 2023 survey documents a remote alpine environment defined by a dense concentration of glacial cirque lakes, including Golden Lake, Fishpole Lake, and Iron Bog Lake. The presence of established routes like the Muldoon-Ironbog Trl and Brockie Lake Trl suggests a terrain shaped by backcountry access and resource management rather than permanent settlement. The convergence of drainages such as Smiley Creek and Muldoon Creek illustrates the complex hydrology of the Custer and Blaine County line. These waterways, flowing from landmarks like Smiley Meadows, remain critical to the region's mountain ecosystems and seasonal grazing history.