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1970 Map of Castle Butte

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Castle Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Castle Butte and the surrounding Fergus County terrain are defined by a network of drainage systems feeding into Cottonwood Creek and Casino Creek. This 1970 field-checked survey reveals a landscape largely dedicated to ranching and recreation, evidenced by the Castle Hill Ski Area and the remote Camp Lewistown site tucked near Mill Creek. The map shows a clear transition between the valley floors, where the Cottonwood Sch sits along the water, and the rising elevations of Hay Canyon and Lyon Canyon to the south.

Infrastructure is sparse, consisting mostly of gravel roads and a noted Jeep Trail traversing the ridges. Scattered Gravel Pit operations suggest local materials were being extracted for road maintenance, while the Gaging Sta on the upper Cottonwood Creek points to the importance of water monitoring in this high-plains environment. Researchers will find the township and range lines clearly marked, delineating the jurisdictional boundaries of T. 14 N. and T. 13 N. during this era.