1966 Map of Browns Mountain

About this map

The Tongue River cuts through the northwest corner of this landscape, where a footbridge once provided local access near the river's edge. Much of the terrain is defined by the high elevations of Browns Mountain and the expansive reaches of the Custer National Forest. The map documents a sparsely populated ranching country during the mid-1960s, evidenced by isolated holdings like Bones Ranch, Gilliland Ranch, and Daniels Ranch. These homesteads were supported by a complex network of springs and man-made water improvements, such as the Brewster Gulch Corral Well and Timber Creek Basin Reservoir. The drainage patterns of Hanging Woman Creek and Lee Creek illustrate the geographical challenges of the region, while the presence of a Landing Area suggests the importance of light aircraft for managing these remote Montana rangelands before modern infrastructure reached the interior.