2017 Map of Rattlesnake Butte

About this map

Rattlesnake Butte stands as a prominent elevation in the central portion of this Ziebach County landscape, where the high plains of South Dakota transition through a series of rugged drainage basins. The area is defined by its watercourses, notably Rattlesnake Cr and its eastern branch, E Rattlesnake Cr, which weave through the terrain alongside Red Coat Cr. These seasonal streams have carved significant relief into the land, creating the distinct formations of Peaked Butte to the southeast and Mud Butte in the southwestern corner. While the map is devoid of established towns, the intricate network of township and range boundaries, such as t12n r18e and t11n r19e, illustrates the enduring Public Land Survey System that organizes this sparsely populated ranching and grazing country. The imagery, captured by the U.S. Geological Survey during the mid-2010s, reveals a territory where elevation and hydrology dictate the sparse human footprint.