1989 Map of Sugarloaf Mountain

About this map

Sugarloaf Mountain and Cliff Mountain dominate this high-altitude landscape along the Continental Divide, where the borders of Powell, Jefferson, and Deer Lodge counties meet. The 1980s terrain is defined by a dense network of drainages including the Boulder River and Orofino Creek, which served as historical corridors for resource extraction and forestry. Evidence of earlier human activity is scattered throughout the Deerlodge National Forest, from the Schurchs Tunnel to numerous unnamed shafts and prospects indicating the area's mining history. The presence of Orofino Campground and various springs like Cold Spring suggests a transition toward recreation and conservation in the late 20th century. This map captures the intersection of industrial legacies and wilderness management, showing the rugged topography where Cottonwood Creek and Little Cottonwood Creek carve through the mountains of western Montana.