2024 Map of Discovery Butte

About this map

The Marias River carves a deep valley along the western edge of this Chouteau County landscape, creating a sharp contrast with the high, dry plains to the east. This 2024 survey captures a terrain defined by complex erosion patterns, where numerous drainages like Black Coulee and Sixmile Coulee have etched deep incisions into the prairie. Dominating the local topography are high points such as Black Butte and the namesake Discovery Butte, which likely served as crucial orientation points for early travelers and homesteaders across this northern Montana region.