2020 Map of Kepple Bottoms

About this map

The Missouri River carves a serpentine path through the northern reach of this Fergus County landscape, defining the border between Fergus and Phillips counties. Along its banks, a series of fertile alluvial flats known as bottoms—including Kepple Bottoms, Manning Bottoms, and Turner Bottoms—reveal the historical importance of the river corridor for grazing and settlement in this arid region. The terrain is deeply incised by drainage features such as Pugh Coulee and Wilder Coulee, which lead down from the high ground of Wilder Ridge. Near the western edge, the Rock Cr Reservoir and Rock Cr represent vital water management in an area dominated by these dramatic coulees and points, such as Rocky Point. To the south, the landscape opens into broad reaches like Tomty Coulee and Sandstrom Coulee, while the Wilder Trl provides a singular route through the rugged breaks above the river.