1959 Map of Mc Rae Gap

About this map

Petty Ranch and Phillips Ranch anchor the northern reaches of this high-plains landscape in Natrona County, where the headwaters of the South Fork Powder River begin their trek north. The terrain is defined by the sharp rise of the Coalbank Hills and prominent landmarks like Wild Horse Butte, reflecting a region dominated by ranching and resource extraction. A distinct industrial footprint is evident through the network of Pipeline routes that traverse the draws and ridges, connecting remote sites like the Wells area. Drainage patterns here are complex, with seasonal watercourses such as Cow Camp Creek, Landon Creek, and Wallace Creek cutting through the breaks. Small, isolated water features like Christine Lake provide critical points of relief in a dry environment where passage is often dictated by natural breaks like McRae Gap and Hoff Gap.