2011 Map of Piney Butte SW

About this map

Miles City Cutoff traverses the southern reaches of this landscape in Carter County, marking a significant route through the high plains of eastern Montana. The area is defined by a dendritic drainage network centered on O'Fallon Creek and its major tributary, the East Fork O'Fallon Creek. These seasonal waterways, including Alkali Creek, Lone Tree Creek, and Hanley Creek, carve subtle basins into the terrain, illustrating the importance of water sources in this cattle-ranching region. The absence of named towns emphasizes the rural, open character of the land as it appeared in the early 21st century, where human activity is primarily traced by the section-line roads and the historic path of the Miles City Cutoff. Local landmarks are almost exclusively hydrological, from Lily Creek in the southwest to Spring Creek in the northeast corner.