2014 Map of Rattlesnake

About this map

Rattlesnake serves as the central reference point in this northern Montana landscape, where the high, flat expanse of Cromley Bench drops away into a complex network of seasonal drainages. The topography is defined by these deeply etched "coulees," including Coal Mine Coulee and Tin Cup Coulee, which channel runoff toward Rattlesnake Cr and Cow Cr. This area reflects the typical high-plains geography of Blaine County, where land use is dictated by the availability of water, as seen at the Suction Cr Reservoir and along Suction Cr in the southeast. Sparse transportation infrastructure, such as Birdtail Rd and Powell Rd, cuts across the surveyed sections of the Public Land Survey System, which remains the primary organizing framework for the territory.