2024 Map of Coal Bank Spring

About this map

Coal Bank Spring serves as a critical watering point in this remote section of Custer County, where the high plains are deeply dissected by seasonal drainages. The landscape is defined by the winding paths of Harris Creek, Muster Creek, and Sand Creek, which carve through the local topography to create a complex network of ridges and draws. These waterways dictate the movement across the terrain, as seen in the alignment of ranch roads like Caprock Rd and Reed Rd. Evidence of the area's geological character is found at Caprock Coulee, where the harder surface layers protect the softer sediments below from erosion. This 2024 survey documents the enduring ranching infrastructure of eastern Montana, where life still revolves around established water sources like the West Fork Sand Creek and the township and range lines that have organized this territory since the early days of settlement.