2020 Map of John Coulee

About this map

John Coulee and its neighboring ravines define this section of the northern Montana landscape near the Blaine and Phillips County line. In a region where water sources dictate movement and land use, ephemeral drainages like Little Suction Cr and Kills At Night Cr carve deep paths through the high plains. The map illustrates a remote grazing or wilderness area primarily accessed by a handful of high-clearance routes, including Timber Ridge Rd and Spencer Ridge Rd, which follow the natural contours of the elevated land. The presence of Buck Coulee and Hay Coulee further highlights the broken terrain that characterizes this portion of the Hays District. These geographic labels reveal a landscape shaped by indigenous history and early ranching life, where named watercourses and ridges serve as the primary landmarks in an otherwise open country.