2017 Map of Iron Post Buttes

About this map

Mission Ridge occupies a prominent position on the western heights above the expansive waters of Lake Oahe, where the landscape is defined by the complex, flooded drainage systems of the Missouri River. The topographical character is marked by the eponymous Iron Post Buttes, which rise above the dissected plateaus and deep coulees of Stanley County. The transition from high plains to the water's edge is traced by established routes like Fort Bennett Rd and Agency Creek Rd, reflecting the historical importance of access to the river bottomlands. Numerous seasonal drainages, including Mission Cr, Sand Cr, and Agency Cr, feed into the reservoir, carving intricate patterns into the shoreline. This modern survey demonstrates how the impoundment of the river has fundamentally reshaped the central South Dakota landscape, turning former river terraces into a maze of peninsulas and inlets.