2011 Map of Ethels Coulee

About this map

The Musselshell River meanders through the heart of this Wheatland County landscape, joined by its southern tributary, the American Fork. This drainage system forms a critical lifeline in the semi-arid Montana terrain, where the settlement of Winnecook sits along the primary transport corridor. North of the river, the topography is defined by the extensive Alkali Creek drainage and the Cinnamon Number 10 Dam, illustrating early 21st-century water management in the region. The map highlights the sharp relief of the area's namesake Ethels Coulee and nearby Cottonwood Coulee, features that likely dictated the placement of ranch roads and crossings. To the south, Timber Creek flows toward the main river valley, completing a picture of a landscape deeply shaped by its seasonal and perennial waterways.