2014 Map of Nichols

About this map

The Yellowstone River meanders across this landscape, defining the transition between the rising northern bluffs and the fertile basins of Howard Valley to the south. In this 2014 survey, the settlement of Nichols and the nearby Cold Spring anchor a region shaped by both natural waterways and man-made irrigation, such as the Hammond Canal. The intricate network of drainage features, including Big Porcupine Cr, Armells Cr, and East Spring Coulee, illustrates the complex erosion patterns common in the Rosebud County badlands. Transportation across this rugged terrain is centered on Old Highway 10E and the Armells Creek Bridge, providing critical access between the northern coulees and the valley floor. Prominent landmarks like Castle Butte provide navigational reference points for this sparsely populated but geologically active section of eastern Montana.