2011 Map of Big Ice Cave

About this map

Big Pryor Mountain anchors this rugged Carbon County landscape, where deep drainages and high plateaus dictate the pattern of human settlement. In this high-country environment, the legacy of ranching is visible through the presence of the Greenough Ranch and Schwend Ranch, located along the upper reaches of the North Fork Sage Creek. The geography is defined by a network of seasonal and perennial water sources, including the strategically located Teeples Spring and Tony Island Spring, which likely served as vital stopovers for livestock and local travel. Landforms such as Harsten Flat and Tie Flat offer rare stretches of level ground amidst a complex system of ridges and hollows, including Commissary Ridge and the aptly named Mill Hollow. The map also captures the headwaters of Pryor Creek and East Pryor Creek, illustrating how these waterways carve through the limestone terrain of southern Montana.