Big Muddy Badlands
The Big Muddy Badlands are a series of badlands in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, and northern Montana, United States, in the Big Muddy Valley and along Big Muddy Creek. Big Muddy Valley is a cleft of erosion and sandstone that is 55 kilometres (34 mi) long, 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) wide, and 160 metres (520 ft) deep.
Big Muddy Badlands | |
|---|---|
Castle Butte | |
Big Muddy Badlands Location of Big Muddy Badlands | |
| Coordinates: 49.2176°N 105.2191°W | |
| Location | Southern Saskatchewan and northern Montana |
| Range | Missouri Coteau |
| Part of | Big Muddy Valley |
| Age | Last ice age |
| Formed by | Big Muddy Creek |
| Geology | Badlands |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 55km |
| • Width | 3.2km |
| • Depth | 160m |
The Big Muddy Valley and Big Muddy Badlands were formed over 12,000 years ago near the end of the last ice age when a glacial lake outburst flood occurred from a pre-historic glacial lake located at present-day Old Wives Lake. Big Muddy Lake is a large salt lake at the heart of the badlands. Two other notable lakes, Willow Bunch Lake and Lake of the Rivers, are farther upstream in the valley.
A prominent feature of the badlands is Castle Butte (49.2175°N 105.2191°W), which is an outcrop of sandstone and compressed clay that protrudes above the flat prairie. It has a height of 60 metres (200 ft) and a circumference of 500 metres (1,600 ft). It is located 19 kilometres (12 mi) south of Bengough on Highway 34, about halfway between Big Muddy Lake and Willow Bunch Lake.
Jean Louis Legare Regional Park is a campground and golf course near Willow Bunch at the northern end of the valley.
Ranching and tourism are important industries in the sparsely populated area. Tours of the badlands are arranged from the nearby town of Coronach.