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1983 Map of Bears Nest

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Bears Nest
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Bears Nest rises above a landscape defined by its seasonal waterways and high plains drainage in this northeast Montana quadrangle. The area showcases a transition between the northern high ground and the branching system of Sage Creek and Assiniboine Creek that moves through the eastern sections. Human presence is sparse, marked primarily by the land-division grid and localized water sources like Snell Spring, which would have been vital for cattle and early ranching operations in this part of Roosevelt County.

The southern portion of the map is dominated by the winding path of Smith Coulee, which leads toward Boxelder Creek. This 1983 provisional map documents the land as it appeared in the late 1970s, maintaining the original manuscript style that highlights the topography of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation interior. It is a portrait of the northern plains before modern developments, where the geography of the coulees dictated travel and usage.