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2014 Map of Wolf Butte

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

USGS Topo · Published 2014

About this map

The Oglala National Grassland dominates this high plains landscape of Dawes County, characterized by a series of prominent buttes and an extensive network of ephemeral drainages. The settlement of Orella sits in the southwestern corner, positioned near the base of Sugar Loaf Butte and the Moody Reservoir. This area is defined by its topographic landmarks, including Wolf Butte, Strawstack Butte, and Twin Butte, which served as critical navigational points for early inhabitants and travelers across these grasslands.

Water management is evident through numerous small catchments like the Board Gate Dam Reservoir, Snook Reservoir, and N Draw Reservoir, which support ranching and wildlife in an otherwise arid environment. These reservoirs are fed by seasonal creeks such as Horsehead Cr and Lone Tree Cr. Local history is captured in family-named landmarks like Pete Smith Hill and the Waldon Hills, while roads like Sugar Loaf Rd and State Hwy 2 provide the primary transit through this section of the Nebraska panhandle.