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2017 Map of Coal Creek

Name: 2017 Topographic Map of Coal Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2017
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2017

About this map

White Buttes and Hook Rock rise above the drainage networks of the Big Dry Creek basin in this part of eastern Montana. The landscape is heavily defined by its complex coulee systems, which have served as traditional landmarks and grazing corridors for generations of ranchers. Significant seasonal waterways including Coal Creek, Little Dry Creek, and Big Wild Horse Creek carve the terrain, illustrating the intricate hydrography that dictates the placement of rural roads like Van Norman Rd and Vall Rd.

The boundary between McCone and Garfield counties bisects the northern section of the map, following a survey line across high ground between the North Prong Coal Creek and the main branch of Coal Creek. From the deeply recessed Calamity Coulee to the open stretches of Norwegian Coulee, the map preserves a clear record of the named features used by locals to navigate this vast, sparsely populated ranching country.