2012 Map of Rattlesnake Butte

About this map

Rattlesnake Butte rises above the plains of Ziebach County, anchoring a landscape defined by the branching drainage systems of the Cheyenne River watershed. This early 21st-century survey documents a sparse, high-plains environment where water dictates the geography. The primary artery of Rattlesnake Cr is joined by its eastern tributaries, E Rattlesnake Cr and E E Rattlesnake Cr, creating a complex network of draws and intermittent streams. Evidence of human settlement in this cattle-country terrain is localized at the Diermier Ranch, while the isolated landform of Peaked Butte serves as a distinct navigational landmark in the southeast. In the southwestern corner, the headwaters of Red Coat Cr provide a glimpse into the localized hydrology of the Great Plains before they flow toward more distant confluences.