2011 Map of Saddle Butte

About this map

The Fresno Reservoir dominates this Hill County landscape, winding through the arid Milk River valley north of the Great Northern Corridor. This 2011 survey captures the intricate drainage network of the high plains, where numerous coulees—dry creek beds that channel seasonal runoff—carve the terrain toward the reservoir and the Milk River. Distinctive landforms such as Saddle Butte and the string of ponds known as the Chain of Lakes provide essential landmarks in a region defined by large-scale ranching and agriculture. The map detail reflects the persistence of old rural routes, including Chain Lake Rd, which connect isolated homesteads across the coulee-broken plains. From Watson Coulee to Wild Rose Coulee, these geological features illustrate the hydraulic history of the Montana Hi-Line before and after the construction of the Fresno Dam.