2020 Map of Bucks Nest

About this map

The Madison River dominates the eastern valley floor of this Montana landscape, where human intervention in the water cycle is evident through the Olsen Ditch and Hyde Cr Ditch. To the west, the terrain rises sharply into the high country of the Beaverhead National Forest, culminating in the landmark heights of Bucks Nest. This transition from river bottom to forested ridge is marked by a network of drainage features like Cherry Gulch, Johnny Gulch, and Dry Hollow. Transport across the river is anchored by the McAtee Bridge, connecting the valley to the ranching and forest roads that skirt the base of Johnny Ridge. The map illustrates a classic Western mountain-and-valley economy where water rights and access to high-altitude timber and grazing lands dictate the placement of roads like McAtee Rd and Ruby Creek Rd.