1997 Map of Squaretop Butte

About this map

Little Missouri National Grassland dominates this landscape along the border of McKenzie and Billings Counties, where the western North Dakota badlands are defined by erosion and resource extraction. The topography is marked by distinctive formations like Squaretop Butte, Castle Rock, and Big Top Mesa, which rise above the intricate drainage networks of Magpie Creek and Whitetail Creek. This late-twentieth-century revision illustrates the industrial footprint within the protected grasslands, highlighting the Magpie Oil Field and Elkhorn Ranch Oil Field alongside the isolated O'Brien Ranch. The map also traces established routes through the broken terrain, including the Hey Trail and Daah Trail, and identifies modern infrastructure such as a Compressor Station, providing a detailed look at how ranching, conservation, and energy development coexist in this corner of the state.