1969 Map of Bear Canyon

About this map

Custer National Forest defines the northern reaches of this borderland terrain, where the slopes of Burnt Ridge give way to a network of drainage canyons. This 1969 field-checked survey highlights the transition from the forested heights near King Canyon and Piney Creek to the more arid basins to the south. The landscape is marked by a persistent search for resources, evidenced by numerous Prospects and Drill Holes scattered across the quadrangle. Water management is a central theme in this environment, seen through the Sage Canal and various named water sources like Mc Kown Well and the aptly named Hard Luck Well. The presence of a Pipeline and multiple Gravel Pits suggests an era of industrial utility and infrastructure development along the Montana Wyoming state line, where Cottonwood Coulee meets the lower flats.