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| 1:24,000 Scale USGS quadrangle maps of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area in Montana, sent to you on CD-ROM for $18.95 |
The Lee Metcalf Wilderness was created by Congress in 1983 to preserve the fragile alpine beauty of the high peaks of the Madison Mountains. The Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, covering 248,944 acres, is nestled between Madison County and Gallatin County Montana. This amazing wilderness area is administered by the Gallatin National Forest and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, located within the said forests.
Unlike the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness to the east, this wilderness consists of not one finite area of wildland, but four separate units in the Madison Range of Montana. The high country in mid-summer is a panorama of spectacles with snow-capped peaks glistening in the sun's rays and lush wild flowers painted across the green meadows. This wilderness area is convenient to neighboring communities of Ennis, Big Sky and Bozeman.
Locator Map of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Public land becomes wilderness through legislation passed by the United States Congress in the form of public laws. For the Lee Metcalf Wilderness were designated by Public Law 98-140. The Lee Metcalf Wilderness is part of the 106 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. This System of wild lands contributes significantly to the ecological, economic, and social health of our country. Wilderness provides clean air and water, a shelter for endangered species, sacred places for indigenous peoples, a living laboratory for research, and a classroom for exploring personal values while experiencing risk, reward, and self-reliance. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization," you play an important role in helping to "secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States. Please follow the regulations listed below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the Lee Metcalf Wilderness to ensure protection of this unique area.
This Wilderness Complex consists of wild canyon section south of Ennis Lake and along the Madison River, namely the Bear Trap Canyon. This canyon, just south of Ennis, offers nine miles of possibly the craziest whitewater in Montana. The dry canyon sweeps up 6,500 feet to the craggy crest of Spanish Peaks, one of the greatest elevation gains in Montana. The Bear Trap Canyon-the first BLM Wilderness in the nation-consists of 6000 acres of brown-red canyon walls, excellent trout fishing and whitewater opportunities. The craggy crests of Spanish with glacial lakes, ridges, near-vertical headwalls is close by.
The Bear Trap Canyon Wilderness winds northward through the range of the same name, the Madison River cuts a 1500 foot cleft in the granitic rock. To hike the canyon, you need to start at the northern (lower) end. The trailhead is off highway 84, near a bridge crossing the Madison River 8 miles northeast of Norris. The trailhead is 3 miles up a gravel road. Most floaters prefer the run during warmer weather. Check locally for the current flow, which is usually posted on a bulletin board at the launch site. It varies greatly, from 900 to 10,000 cfs, depending on the season, dam releases, and weather. Fishing the Madison River? This area is famous for its trout. The stretch through Bear Trap is heavely used as are the campsites near the base of the canyon. Watch for rattlesnakes and lots of poison ivy along the banks of the Madison. Montana fishing licenses are required. Check locally for current fishing regulations set by the state. Don’t get caught without a license. You’ll be forced to roll in a patch of poison ivy, then forced to eat a pile of dead, rotting fish with your hands tied behind your head. Interested in taking a hike? Select one of the many peaks over 10,000 feet. 11,316-foot Hilgard Peak is the highest point in Montana outside of the Beartooth Range. The above-timberline cirques are dotted with crystal-clear lakes filled with alpine cutthroat trout. Experience the beauty of granite peaks, permanent snowfields and dry fly fishing beyond compare. The days can be filled with unlimited activities from fishing the lakes and streams to exploring the high crags for bighorn sheep and mountain goats, to just plain relaxation. About seventy beautiful lakes are pocketed along the divide, most of which are in the more rugged southern reaches near Hilgard Peak. Vast grassy subalpine basins and lush meadows make superb living space for elk, moose, sheep, and the threatened, free-roaming grizzly. Some folks visit this wilderness to get away from the daily hustles of city life. Others take the refreshing hike to high alpine country to catch a glimps of wild trout. Horseback riding and cross-country skiing can lead to beautiful camps sites beneath the magestic peaks. Some of the prominent landmarks along the crest of the Hilgards include the Helmet, Koch Peak, Sphinx and the chimney spires. About 65 alpine lakes are nestled along the divide. Climbers and alpine Skiers head to Hilgard Peak. This Alpine area is made up of steep, rugged ridges and numerous cirques containing alpine lakes. Ted Turner, who owns a 125,000 acre ranch abutting the north boundary of the Spanish Peaks is keen on protecting this area. Turner’s Ranch is under a conservation easement donated to the Nature Conservancy. Travelliing through his ranch, one can observe Buffalo, as Turner eliminated cows from the ranch. Turner recently commented that “… The only hoofed mammals that roamed old New Mexico grasslands were bison, and then only when rainfall led to lush growth of grass." The general area contains some of the best grizzly bear and elk country in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. As a matter of fact, the abundance of wildlife make this region a mecca for observing the great diversity of the native species in their true environment. The Taylor Peaks wolf pack are known to have denned in these mountains between 2000 and 2002. The lakes and streams are home to wild trout.
Place OrderThe cost is $18.95.
Note: If you wish, download the free computer program for viewing the maps. A Hyperlink is provided on the CD-ROM to facilitate the download of the free viewer . Options exist for both Windows and Apple / Macintosh systems. For Windows 95, 98, NT 4, 2000, XP, XP Pro
For Macintosh OS 9.x (latest version available)Other Macintosh OS X Plug-ins
"Thanks for the map guys, it is great. I printed some maps on waterproof paper and they are perfect." Ted S.- Bozman, MT "Downloading the free viewer was easy. Its a great application to view the maps you sent. We hiked in the Crazy Mountains and the maps let us plan our trip! thank you. Julie B. - Madison Wisconsin "The price is right and so are the maps... less than what I paid for some lingerie for my wife. The maps are actually more sexy." Cal T. St Cloud Minnesota. "Thanks for sending the CD-ROM so fast - The quad maps are wonderful. Its nice to see the entire area without any map seams. Its good to know there are trusting folks like you. Thanks!" Cally S. Chicago, IL "You guys are quick. Thanks for the fast turn-around. Its nice to view this area as a seamless map as opposed to looking at a bunch of paper Topographic maps on the table. Thank you mucho!" Kim T. Boston, MA
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