1965 Map of Sunburst Lake

About this map

Bob Marshall Wilderness and Flathead National Forest dominate this 1965 survey, depicting a high-elevation backcountry accessible only by a network of pack trails. The landscape is defined by its dramatic verticality, with prominent summits like Oreamnos Peak and Stadium Peak towering over deep drainage basins. High-alpine water bodies, including the titular Sunburst Lake and Palisade Lake, serve as the headwaters for a complex system of creeks such as Gorge Creek and Little Salmon Creek. This map captures the region's character as a roadless interior, where the primary movement through the terrain is dictated by natural gaps like Lion Creek Pass. The boundary between Flathead and Lake counties is clearly delineated as it traverses the ridgelines, marking a remote segment of the wilderness boundary.