1985 Map of Elk Butte

About this map

Meeteetse Rim dominates the southern landscape of this 1980s Park County survey, marking a significant topographical transition above the drainages of Cottonwood Creek and the South Fork Dry Creek. The area is characterized by a network of deep gulches and high ridges, including the prominent Elk Butte and Cedar Ridge. Evidence of resource extraction is found at Coal Mine Gulch in the north, while the presence of Oregon Camp suggests localized activity in an otherwise sparse high-plains environment. Water sources like Foley Spring and the drainage at Oregon Coulee provide critical landmarks in this arid terrain. The map captures the complex system of coulees and hollows, such as Long Hollow Gulch and Chipmunk Gulch, which define the natural corridors through the central highlands.