2024 Map of Lightning Butte

About this map

Lightning Butte and Pine Butte anchor this high plains landscape in Powder River County, where drainage patterns define the local geography. The territory is marked by a network of ephemeral water sources and man-made impoundments such as Moody Reservoir, CCC Reservoir, and Vannett Reservoir, illustrating the critical importance of water management in this arid region. These basins collect runoff from a complex system of draws and coulees, including McKenzie Spring Draw, Stills Draw, and the West Ainsworth Coulee. Settlement patterns are traced through a series of local connectors like Moore Rd and Pilgrim Creek Rd, which provide access between ranching lands and primary watercourses like Cabin Creek and Pilgrim Creek. The map also captures several distinct elevations such as Buffalo Butte and Shipley Butte, which serve as prominent navigational landmarks across the undulating terrain.