2011 Map of Alaska Bench

About this map

The Little Snowy Mountains define the southern landscape of this Fergus County quadrangle, where a complex network of drainages flows across the Montana prairie. This 2011 survey documents a remote ranching and grazing environment dominated by the North Fork Flatwillow Creek and its sister, the South Fork Flatwillow Creek. The terrain is deeply incised by several distinct geological features, including the dramatic North Horsethief Canyon and Horsethief Canyon near the southern boundary. These canyons, along with Maynard Coulee and Hay Coulee, suggest a landscape shaped by seasonal water movement and erosion. Human presence is sparse, marked primarily by rural access routes such as Alaska Bench Rd and Maynard, illustrating the vast, open-space character of central Montana's high plains during the early 21st century.