1997 Map of Badland Draw

About this map

Little Missouri National Grassland dominates the eastern portion of this late 20th-century landscape, where the high plains of eastern Fallon County meet the North Dakota border. The terrain is defined by a complex network of ephemeral drainage systems and erosion-carved landmarks, most notably Badland Draw and the prominent Haystack Butte. This era of the survey reflects a landscape largely preserved for public use and grazing, characterized by a lack of dense settlement but a high density of named geographic features. The map traces the upper reaches of the Cannonball River and Cottonwood Creek, alongside smaller tributaries like Johny Creek and Dugout Creek. From the heights of Windy Ridge to the bottomlands of Mud Creek, the area showcases the classic badlands topography of the northern Missouri Plateau, documented here with precision by the U.S. Geological Survey and USDA Forest Service.