2020 Map of Skunk Coulee

About this map

Fort Peck Lake dominates this northern Montana landscape, where the inundated Missouri River valley forms a complex shoreline of deep bays and prominent headlands. The water’s edge is defined by steep topographic relief, notably around Duck Creek Bay and Catfish Bay on the eastern side. The terrain west of the reservoir is characterized by a series of high, parallel landforms including Second Ridge and Third Ridge, which are separated by the namesake Skunk Coulee. This area marks the boundary between Valley and Garfield counties, reflecting the remote nature of the Missouri River Breaks region. Rural access is maintained through a network of local routes like Poverty Ridge Rd and the evocatively named Millionaire Mile, showing how modern recreational development and ranching access skirt the rugged edges of the reservoir.