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1970 Map of Alaska Bench

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Alaska Bench
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Alaska Bench dominates the high plains landscape of central Montana, where the foothills of the Snowy Mountains begin to rise out of the drainage basins. This 1970 survey captures a sparsely populated ranching and grazing region centered on the settlement of Holt, located near the convergence of several seasonal watercourses. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation changes between the flat-topped benches and deep incisions like Horsethief Canyon and Maynard Coulee.

Public land management is a primary feature of the area, with the southern portion of the map transitioning into the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Water sources are critical in this environment, evidenced by the presence of McCartney Springs and various unnamed springs that feed the North Fork Flatwillow Creek. The local transportation network relies on the Red Hill Road and several primitive routes, including a Jeep Trail that navigates the complex topography between Fergus and Golden Valley counties.