1997 Map of Vermilion Peak

About this map

Vermilion River and its numerous tributaries dominate this high-elevation landscape within the Kaniksu National Forest and Lolo National Forest. The 1997 revision of this Sanders County terrain details a network of drainage basins including Queer Creek, Frosty Creek, and Charred Creek, which descend from prominent summits like Vermilion Peak and Slide Rock Mountain. The geography is defined by its water sources, from high alpine basins containing Rush Lake and Marmot Lake to the eastern slopes where Stony Lake and Terrace Lake sit. Primitive transportation routes like the Cabinet Thompson Falls road and the Slide Rock Mountain Trail provide the primary access through the Cabinet Ranger District. This map serves as a vital record of the wilderness boundary between two major national forests, capturing the naming conventions of the era through distinctive labels like Happy Gulch and Freezeout Creek.