1978 Map of Byrne Creek

About this map

The Highwood Mountains dominate the northwestern corner of this landscape, where the Lewis and Clark National Forest boundary meets the open ranching country of Judith Basin County. The terrain is defined by a dense network of coulees and creeks, including Byrne Creek, Big Arrow Creek, and Hay Creek, which carve through the high plains. Small-scale human activity is visible in the isolated settlements of Knutson and Meyers, while the lower portion of the map traces the path of the Burlington Northern railroad as it skirts the foothills near Geyser. Local history is grounded in specific family-named landmarks like McLeish Cem and the Geyser Cemetery, alongside distinctive geological formations such as Black Buttes and the peak of Spion Kop. The map captures a transition from protected mountain forest to the structured grid of Montana's agricultural and transit corridors.