2015 Map of Hells Canyon

About this map

West Short Pine Hills rise over the northwestern corner of this landscape, defining the rugged drainage patterns that feed into the S Fork Moreau River to the south. This 2015 survey of the Hells Canyon quadrangle captures a remote corner of Harding County where seasonal waterways and erosional features like Ash Coulee and Gilbert Draw shape the high plains. A network of rural routes including Short Hills Rd and Dillon Rd provides access to the interior, where the Leger Dam stands as a point of managed water in an otherwise dry environment. The mapping reveals a terrain heavily influenced by the winding courses of Valley Cr and Cady Cr, illustrating the fundamental relationship between water and land use in this part of South Dakota.