2012 Map of Cave Gulch Reservoir

About this map

Cottonwood Stock Trl cuts through the dry terrain of Natrona County, tracing a path through a landscape defined by seasonal water management and drainage systems. This 2012 survey reveals the hydrological structure of the high plains, where the S Fork Powder River and Cottonwood Cr are supplemented by man-made catchments like Cave Gulch Reservoir and Burke Reservoir. These features speak to the region's reliance on water control for livestock and ranching, as evidenced by the namesake stock trail. Named topographical features like Cactus Flat, Okie Draw, and Cave Gulch provide a sense of the local nomenclature used by those working the land. The map illustrates how roads and trails are positioned to navigate around these intermittent drainages and draws, such as Mikes Draw, which shape the physical accessibility of the Wyoming interior.