2015 Map of Summit Lake

About this map

The high plateau of Yellowstone National Park reveals a complex hydrothermal landscape in this 2015 survey. Centered on the high-elevation Summit Lake, the map documents the critical intersection of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the local Summit Lake Trail. The geothermal character of the region is evident in the presence of Smoke Jumper Hot Springs and Summit Lake Hot Springs, which feed into the headwaters of the Little Firehole River. This waterway meanders through the expansive Little Firehole Meadows, a terrain feature that marks the gradual transition between high ridges and alpine basins. The drainage patterns are further defined by smaller tributaries such as Fairy Cr and W-Fork Iron Spring Cr, illustrating the hydrology of the Continental Divide where snowmelt and thermal activity sustain the river systems of the American West.