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1985 Map of Hilger NW

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Hilger NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Salt Creek and its complex network of seasonal drainages define this high-plains landscape in central Montana as it was recorded in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The terrain is characterized by the branching headwaters of several systems, most notably the convergence of the West Fork, Middle Fork, and East Fork as they carve through the local topography. This area, largely defined by ranching and open rangeland, features isolated water sources such as Little Cottonwood Spring, which served as vital landmarks in an otherwise sparsely populated region.

Downstream, the drainage patterns shift toward Box Elder Creek and the curiously named Freeze Out Coulee to the south. These features illustrate the erosion-carved breaks and coulees typical of Fergus County, providing a clear record of the watershed before more recent land-use changes. The lack of concentrated settlements or major infrastructure highlights the open, rural character of the Big Snowy Mountains' northern foothills during this era.