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2023 Map of Smith Creek Butte

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Smith Creek Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest converge in this high-altitude landscape of the Cascades. The survey captures a dramatic geological environment defined by the Muddy River, which carves through the Muddy River Gorge south of the prominent Smith Creek Butte. The terrain is marked by significant volcanic features, including the steep walls of Ape Canyon and the basalt formations of Lava Canyon.

Access to this wilderness is documented through a network of backcountry paths like the Ape Canyon Trl and Lava Canyon Trl. These trails, along with the Randle-Lewis River corridor, provide the primary infrastructure for navigating the complex drainage systems of Bean Creek and Clearwater Creek. Small alpine water bodies, such as Crane Lake, appear as isolated landmarks within the heavy timber and volcanic debris fields.