1963 Map of Sylvia Lake

About this map

The Lincoln and Flathead county line runs directly through this high-elevation backcountry, dividing the mountainous terrain between Kootenai National Forest to the west and Flathead National Forest to the east. Surveyed in the early 1960s, the landscape is defined by a network of drainage basins, with waters flowing from the central Divide into systems like Sheppard Creek and Little Wolf Creek. The map reveals a wilderness largely accessible only by a primitive Pack Trail network, connecting high summits such as Mount Conner and Ingalls Mountain. The presence of Roadside Park near the namesake Sylvia Lake suggests a focused point of recreation amidst the steep topography. Notable for its hydrography, the area includes the headwaters of Hand Creek and the marshy expanses of Squaw Meadows, illustrating the complex watershed management of Montana’s national forests during the mid-century.