1973 Map of Mud Buttes

About this map

The Little Missouri River snakes through the northwestern corner of this landscape, carving a distinct valley near Sunny Slope. This 1970s survey captures the drainage patterns of Bowman County, where numerous seasonal waterways like Skull Creek, Horse Creek, and Sevenmile Creek dissect the terrain between prominent high points. The map's southern and central reaches are defined by the namesake Mud Buttes and the Rattlesnake Buttes, which serve as significant landmarks for navigation in an area otherwise sparse of human infrastructure. A solitary Landing Strip and a network of unimproved roads provide the few signs of modern development, illustrating the persistent isolation of these badlands. Local history researchers can trace the natural boundaries formed by Fivemile Creek and the intricate contour lines that define the breaks and buttes of this southwestern North Dakota region.