2017 Map of Smith Creek Butte

About this map

Gifford Pinchot National Forest dominates this landscape, showing the complex drainage systems and geological formations of the Washington Cascades in the years following the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The Muddy River carves through the center of the map, forming the dramatic Muddy River Gorge and Lava Canyon, where the river drops toward Pine Cr. To the north, Ape Canyon and Smith Creek Butte provide prominent vertical relief. The map documents an extensive network of Forest Service roads, such as Nat For Dev Rd 25 and Nat For Dev Rd 83, which provide access to this volcanic terrain. These routes trace the ridges and valley floors alongside water bodies like Clearwater Cr and the secluded Paradise Falls, illustrating how modern forestry and recreation infrastructure navigate the area's steep topography.