2017 Map of Lonesome Lake

About this map

Lonesome Lake anchors the southern expanse of this north-central Montana landscape, where the high plains meet the intricate drainage patterns of the Missouri River watershed. This modern 2017 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey documents a sparsely populated ranching and agricultural region spanning the border between Hill and Chouteau counties. The terrain is defined by dry washes and deep-cut glacial features, most notably Barneys Coulee and Twelvemile Coulee, which carve through the prairie. A grid of section-line roads and tracks like Box Elder Rd, Ihmsen Well Rd, and N Lonesome Lake Rd provide access to the vast interior. The presence of Ft 115 and various wells suggests a landscape optimized for livestock management and land resource extraction in a region where water is a precious commodity.