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2014 Map of Willis Buttes

Name: 2014 Topographic Map of Willis Buttes
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2014
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2014

About this map

Willis Buttes and the surrounding high ground of McCone County define this prairie landscape, where water management is the primary human imprint on the land. The presence of numerous small catchments like Jays Reservoir, Goose Island Reservoir, and Hell Gate Reservoir indicates a ranching economy dependent on collecting seasonal runoff in an arid environment. The drainage network is complex, with the N Prong Shade Cr and S Fork Shade Cr carving through the terrain near notable summits such as Bald Butte and Teton Butte.

Remote access is provided by unpaved tracks like Maxwell Hill Rd and Shade Creek Rd, which navigate between prominent landmarks such as Lytle Hill and Vanderhoof Hill. In the southern portion of the map, the Bonin Divide separates local watersheds, while features like Heagy Coulee and Lions Pass mark the natural breaks in the hills. This survey documents a contemporary look at a sparsely populated section of the Montana plains where topographic names often reflect early homesteaders and the physical challenges of the northern Great Plains.