2017 Map of Potato Buttes

About this map

Potato Buttes and the elevated Flattops define this section of Carter County, Montana, where the high plains transition into complex drainage systems. The landscape is carved by numerous seasonal watercourses, including L O Cr, Deep Cr, and Trail Cr, which navigate the varying elevations of the Public Land Survey System townships. This 2017 U.S. Geological Survey representation highlights the remote character of the region, where human infrastructure is largely limited to thoroughfares like Cottonwood Rd. The map illustrates a classic Montana rangeland pattern, where the topography dictates the path of local creeks such as S Butte Cr and N Cottonwood Cr. For those studying the geography of eastern Montana, the detailed contour intervals provide a clear view of how these buttes and creek forks organize the local terrain.