2011 Map of Whale Buttes

About this map

Whale Buttes and Center Mountain dominate this corner of Flathead County, representing a high-elevation landscape defined by its network of Forest Service access. In the early 21st century, the area near Ford shows a transition from drainage systems like Whale Creek and Moose Creek to the complex infrastructure of forest development roads. The map documents an extensive grid of service routes, including Whale Creek Rd and Red Meadow Rd, which provide access to the timber and recreational lands north of the main forks of Red Meadow Creek and the South Fork Red Meadow Creek. This road-heavy landscape reflects the modern management of these northern Montana forests, where names like Hawk Creek and Hay Creek mark the primary valleys and drainage basins utilized by foresters and local travelers.