1955 Map of Packsaddle Butte

About this map

Gallatin National Forest dominates the southern landscape of this mid-century survey, where the Forest Boundary marks the transition from rugged mountain foothills to the river valley. The northeastern corner is anchored by the Yellowstone River, a vital corridor shadowed by the Northern Pacific railroad tracks. This era of the Missouri River Basin development program captures a terrain defined by its complex drainage network, including the eponymous Packsaddle Butte and the winding course of Bridger Creek. Local landmarks like Bear Chip Coulee and Norwegian Gulch highlight the specific regional naming conventions of the era. For those interested in historical land use, the map details the early Black Butte Trail and several springs, including West Bridger Spring, providing a precise record of water sources and access routes before modern expansion altered the rural character of Sweet Grass County.