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2020 Map of Burns Mountain

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Burns Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Burns Mountain and Timber Butte anchor the high ground in this section of Beaverhead County, defining a landscape of arid slopes and crucial water sources. Water is the primary driver of placement here, from the human-made Dillon Reservoir in the north to numerous natural outflows like School Section Spring, Upper Magpie Spring, and Red Spring. These springs provided vital points of rest in an otherwise challenging environment for early ranchers and travelers.

The northern expanse of Argenta Flats gives way to a network of local tracks and drainage features including Ermont Gulch and Rattlesnake Creek. The transition from the flatlands near Ten Mile Road to the high elevations suggests the historic utility of these routes for accessing grazing lands and remote mineral claims. The varied water features, including a collection of pools known as The Puddles, illustrate the complex hydrology necessary for survival in this high-desert terrain.