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2023 Map of The Cradle

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of The Cradle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

The Cradle stands as a prominent landmark at the intersection of the Wenatchee National Forest and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. This high-elevation terrain is defined by a complex network of alpine basins containing numerous water bodies such as the Klonaqua Lakes, Robin Lakes, and Lake Leland. The landscape is largely inaccessible by road, instead connected by historic paths like the Paddy Go Easy Pass Trl and the French Ridge Trl.

The hydrography of the region is centered on the headwaters of the Cle Elum River and French Creek, which drain the eastern slopes of the Wenatchee Mountains. Elevations vary significantly between peaks like Granite Mtn and deep valleys carved by Leland Creek and Meadow Creek. The map documents the intricate administrative boundaries where King, Chelan, and Kittitas counties meet, highlighting how these natural barriers dictated the historical division of the Washington Cascades.