2011 Map of Steamboat Lake

About this map

Steamboat Lake sits at the heart of this high-elevation drainage network in the Wallowa Mountains, where glacial activity has carved a complex system of cirques and ridges. The Minam River and its upper tributaries, including the North Minam River and East Fork Elk Creek, dominate the western half of the sheet, defining a landscape of steep canyons and sharp divides. High points such as Sturgill Peak, Elkhorn Peak, and Minam Peak rise above a series of alpine waters like Swamp Lake, Long Lake, and Sky Lake. This 2011 survey captures the distribution of these remote basins, including Tombstone Lake and Diamond Lake to the southwest. To the east, the terrain falls away toward the Lostine River valley, separated by the massive bulk of Glacier Mountain and the deep incision of Wild Sheep Creek. The map provides a precise record of the hydrological connections between these sub-alpine lakes and the major river forks that drain the Eagle Cap area.