2014 Map of Alaska Bench

About this map

The Alaska Bench and Middle Bench dominate this high-plains landscape in central Montana, where the foothills meet the Little Snowy Mountains. This 2014 survey records the transition from open range into the rugged drainages of the Lewis & Clark National Forest, which covers the southern portion of the sheet. The terrain is deeply incised by erosion, creating distinctive geological features like Horsethief Canyon, Maynard Coulee, and North Horsethief Canyon. Water is a critical resource in this arid environment, marked by McCartney Springs and the headwaters of N Fork Flatwillow Cr and Maynard Cr. Human infrastructure remains sparse, defined primarily by a network of rural access points including Alaska Bench Rd, Steele Trl, and Half Moon Ranch Rd. The boundary between Fergus Co and Golden Valley Co runs through the southern reaches, highlighting the remote nature of this ranching and public land interface.