2021 Map of Patch Skin Buttes

About this map

Patch Skin Buttes and other prominent landforms define this high-plains landscape in Dewey County, where the terrain breaks toward the Missouri River valley. The northern reaches of Lake Oahe appear at the southeastern edge of the map, marking the significant hydrological shift in this region following the mid-century damming of the river. The drainage patterns of Buffalo Cr and Swift Bird Cr carve intricate coulees across the landscape, demonstrating the natural erosion of the prairie plateaus. Settlement in this area is sparse and tied to the road network of the Cheyenne River Reservation, with Bia Hwy 8 and Bia Hwy 7 providing the primary transit corridors. Isolated landmarks like Coffee Butte and Twin Buttes serve as traditional navigational points across the open range, which remains largely shaped by township and range section lines.