2024 Map of Wards Butte

About this map

Wards Butte stands as a central topographic landmark along the high-elevation boundary where the Challis National Forest meets the Salmon National Forest. This remote section of the Salmon River Mountains is defined by a dense network of drainages and timber management routes, with the county line between Lemhi and Custer counties tracing the high ridgelines. The map reveals an intricate system of forest trails, including the Iron Mountain Trl and the Big Hat Creek Trl, which provide access to deep canyons and seasonal watersheds. Named features such as Sawmill Creek and Burnt Gulch suggest a landscape shaped by historical resource extraction and the natural cycles of the Idaho wilderness. Larger watercourses like Big Hat Creek and Little Hat Creek dictate the local geography, flanked by rugged roads such as Morgan Creek Rd that navigate the steep terrain of the Frank Church region.