2017 Map of Porcupine Butte

About this map

Porcupine Butte commands the center of this landscape on the border of Wheatland and Sweet Grass counties. This high-plains terrain is defined by a complex network of water rights and irrigation engineering, evidenced by the American Fork Ranch Ditch and Tronrud Ditch. These man-made channels divert water from natural flows like American Fork and Lebo Cr to support the local ranching economy. The map reveals how historical land use follows the drainage patterns of Sweet Grass Creek and its many tributaries, such as Agnes Cr and Cayuse Cr. Transportation across this rangeland relies on established routes like Melville Rd and State Hwy 371, which skirt the base of the butte and navigate the draws of Rough Gulch.