2024 Map of Eskay NW

About this map

Birch Creek and its tributary, Little Birch Creek, define the complex drainage patterns of this Chouteau County landscape. The terrain is characterized by intricate coulees and breaks, where watercourses like Chip Creek have carved deep into the high plains. Human presence is marked primarily by a network of rural routes and historic pathways, most notably the Cow Island Trl. This trail has deep roots in Montana history, serving as a vital overland freighting route during the steamboat era when low water on the Missouri River forced cargo to be offloaded at Cow Island for transport to Fort Benton.