2011 Map of Brown Pass

About this map

Fort Peck Lake defines the southern reach of this Valley County landscape, where the Missouri River drainage shapes a complex network of coulees and ridges. The terrain rises northward from King Coulee toward the high ground of Brown Ridge and Shufeldt Ridge, which frame the central passage of Brown Pass. This 2011 survey documents a remote ranching environment characterized by extensive water management, with numerous small impoundments such as Chico Reservoir, Half Barrel Reservoir, and Soufly Reservoir dotting the drainages. These features, alongside established outposts like Magruder Ranch and Wittmayer Ranch, illustrate the intersection of local cattle operations and the semi-arid hydrology of the high plains. Natural water sources like Needle Spring and the winding course of Duck Creek remain vital markers in this sparsely populated portion of Montana.