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2017 Map of Bird Rapids

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Bird Rapids
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

The Missouri River carves a deep path through the border of Fergus and Blaine Counties, defining the center of this Missouri Breaks landscape. Navigation along this stretch is marked by a series of whitewater features, including Castle Bluffs Rapids, Magpie Rapids, and the namesake Bird Rapids. The terrain is characterized by high, eroded formations such as Castle Bluffs and Black Butte, which serves as a prominent landmark near the Black Butte North Airport.

Upland areas are dominated by long, named divides including Pendell Ridge, Lone Tree Ridge, and Ervin Ridge. These high points separate the drainage of several seasonal coulees, such as Lion Coulee and Bullwhacker Coulee, which flow toward the river valley. The map reveals a sparse infrastructure, with only a few unpaved routes like Ervine Ridge Rd providing access to this isolated river corridor.