2024 Map of Patterson Canyon

About this map

The Little Snowy Mountains and the Big Snowy Mountains dominate this central Montana landscape, where the high-altitude terrain of the Lewis & Clark National Forest meets the transition to the ranching country of Golden Valley County. This modern topographic study reveals a complex network of drainages and seasonal watercourses, notably Patterson Canyon and Horsethief Canyon, which define the rugged breaks in the timbered slopes. Evidence of land management and access is visible through named routes like the Big Snowy Trl and Red Hill Rd, which navigate the steep elevation changes between the peaks and the lower-lying Ashley Coulee. Small water bodies like McLean Lake and the upper reaches of Cameron Creek provide essential water sources in this semi-arid highland environment, illustrating the sparse but vital infrastructure of the modern American West.