1973 Map of Lonesome Peak

About this map

The Powder River carves a winding path through this corner of Powder River County, Montana, creating a lush valley floor contrasted against the high, broken drainages of the surrounding plains. The landscape is defined by its water sources, both natural and man-made, featuring several Flowing Wells and a Drill Hole that supported the area's cattle ranching interests. To the southeast, the topography rises toward the namesake Lonesome Peak, overlooking a network of seasonal watercourses like the aptly named Baking Powder Creek and Bog Springs Creek. Scattered infrastructure such as Landing Strips and the Butte Creek Road highlight the vast distances and transportation requirements of this Big Sky region in the early 1970s. This survey records the ranching-reliant geography of the area before modern consolidation, documenting the specific locations of springs and creeks essential to life in this arid environment.