2011 Map of Smeads Bench

About this map

Cabinet Gorge Reservoir dominates the southern landscape of this 2011 survey, where the Bull River flows into the impounded waters of the Clark Fork. This area of Sanders County is defined by steep drainage corridors and narrow mountain roads like Old Bull River Rd and Little Bear Rd. The settlement pattern is largely recreational and service-oriented, centered near the Noxon Siding and Smeads Bench areas. Local infrastructure such as the Noxon Satellite Fire Dept and seasonal stops like the Hereford Restaurant Campground reflect the modern utility of the valley. To the north, the terrain rises sharply toward Government Mountain and Pilik Ridge, cut by numerous named ravines including Napoleon Gulch, Copper Gulch, and Gin Gulch. The transport network follows the water, with Railroad Rd skirting the southern shore of the reservoir.