2017 Map of Circle L Creek

About this map

The Tongue River meanders through this portion of Custer County, shaping a drainage system defined by numerous seasonal and perennial tributaries. The eponymous Circle L Creek enters the river from the west, part of a network of waterways including Wolf Cr, Nelson Cr, and Thorpe Cr that have carved the undulating topography of the Montana plains. Human presence is concentrated along the primary transit corridor, Tongue River Rd, which follows the river's eastern bank through the township sections of T5N R48E and T6N R48E. This 2017 survey illustrates the persistence of traditional land divisions and the vital importance of water access in this pastoral landscape, where the confluence of smaller streams like Dry Cr and Kennedy Cr with the main river channel dictates the movement of cattle and commerce.