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1988 Map of Sphinx Mountain

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Sphinx Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The high peaks of Madison County dominate this late-twentieth-century study of the Montana backcountry. Characterized by the convergence of the Gallatin National Forest and Beaverhead National Forest, the landscape is defined by the sharp elevations of Sphinx Mountain and the distinctive formation known as The Helmet. Human presence is sparse, marked primarily by utilitarian outposts such as Manley Camp and the Yellow Mule Ranger Cabin, suggesting a region managed for timber, grazing, or seasonal wilderness access rather than permanent settlement.

A complex network of drainages, including the Middle Fork Bear Creek and multiple branches of Yellow Mule Creek, carves through the McAtee Basin, eventually feeding the Gallatin River. The inclusion of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness underscores the mid-century shift toward land conservation. Key landmarks like Indian Crossing on Indian Creek and the notable Eglise Rock provide specific navigation points for those tracing historical trails or surveying the high-altitude terrain of Pioneer Mountain.