2017 Map of Cottonwood Reservoir

About this map

Wilsall serves as the focal point of this Park County landscape, situated where the high plains meet the intricate drainage systems of the Shields River valley. The map documents a sophisticated irrigation network vital to the local ranching economy, evidenced by the Big Canal and Myers Ditch that divert water across the basin. To the north, the Kavanaugh Hills rise above the surrounding terrain, while the Cottonwood Reservoir and the Wilsall Airport sit centrally, marking the intersection of natural water storage and regional transit. Numerous creek systems, including Potter Cr and Flathead Cr, converge near the southern edge of the sheet at Shields Canyon. This 2017 survey provides a clear view of the rural road grid, from Basin Meadow Rd to Shields River Rd, tracing the legacy of settlement and land use in this Montana valley.