2017 Map of Calamity Coulee

About this map

Calamity Coulee and its neighboring ravines define this section of the eastern Montana plains, where the drainage patterns of Little Dry Cr and Thompson Cr shape the terrain. This landscape is characterized by a dense network of coulees—steep-walled drainage valleys—that served as vital landmarks for early ranchers and travelers in Garfield County. Named features like Nighten Helser Coulee, Witchie Coulee, and Ogilvie Coulee reflect a history of local land usage and family-named geographic markers. The only significant transit corridor is E Little Dry Rd, following the natural contours of the watercourses. This 2017 survey provides a detailed look at the public land survey system divisions across the region, including townships like t15n r42e, illustrating how the arid geography was partitioned for settlement and grazing.