2011 Map of Horsethief Coulee West

About this map

Flat Mountain dominates the western landscape of this Fergus County region, where the high plains break into a network of drainages and coulees. The hydrography of the area is defined by the North Fork McDonald Creek, which winds eastward across the center of the sheet, joined by smaller tributaries like Parr Creek and Alkali Creek. The northern reaches are marked by the rugged descent of Whisky Gulch toward Chippewa Creek. This 2011 survey documents a rural landscape where movement is dictated by ranch roads and historical corridors, such as Gilt Edge Rd and Redding Ranch Rd. The absence of dense settlements highlights the ranching character of the land, preserving the original spatial relationships between natural landmarks and the legacy road network that connects isolated homesteads across the central Montana prairie.