2017 Map of Nelson Creek Bay

About this map

Nelson Creek Bay and McGuire Creek Bay dominate this McCone County landscape, where the Missouri River's backwaters reach deep into a highly eroded coulee system. The complex shoreline is defined by prominent landmarks like Jacks Point and the dual elevations of North Twitchell Point and South Twitchell Point. Further inland, the terrain transitions into a series of ridges and flats, including Racetrack Ridge and Egan Flat. Named features such as Carney Springs and the winding Nelson Creek suggest historical water access points in an otherwise arid environment. Numerous coulees, including South Foster Coulee and Shot Coulee, demonstrate the intense drainage patterns that have shaped the breaks surrounding the Dry Arm. This map provides a look at the interplay between the reservoir waters and the traditional ranchland topography of eastern Montana.