1996 Map of Thunderbolt Creek

About this map

The Continental Divide Scenic Trail snakes along the high ridges of the Powell Co Jefferson Co line, marking a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes and mineral wealth. This mid-1990s survey of the Helena National Forest and Deerlodge National Forest borderlands reveals an area deeply carved by waterways like the Little Blackfoot River and the Boulder River. Evidence of historical and active extraction is prominent, notably at the Saratoga Mine and numerous unnamed Prospect sites scattered throughout Alta Gulch and Boyle Gulch. The terrain is punctuated by significant peaks including Thunderbolt Mountain and Electric Peak, which overlook high-altitude water bodies such as Cottonwood Lake and Cliff Lake. The map illustrates a remote wilderness where the legacy of mining intersects with modern recreational trail systems.