Jefferson County stretches through a mountain-heavy part of southwestern Montana, with Boulder near the center, Whitehall in the south, and Montana City, Clancy, and Jefferson City extending toward the north. The general map shows I-15 linking much of the central county, while I-90, U.S. 2, Route 10, and Route 287 shape the southern road network around Whitehall and Cardwell. The terrain-and-water view adds Boulder River, Little Boulder River, Basin Creek, Bison Creek, and several mountain lakes, while the elevation map shows a county of deep valleys framed by high ridges. High-resolution JPG versions of the maps are available together in the download ZIP below.
Jefferson County’s official website lists county offices in Boulder, and the county Road Department divides its work into Montana City, Boulder, and Whitehall districts. Those three places provide a useful way to understand the long north-south layout. Start at Boulder in the middle, look north toward Clancy and Montana City, and then follow the roads south toward Whitehall and Cardwell.
Table of Contents
Boulder anchors the central road network
On the general county map, Boulder lies slightly south of the county’s midpoint. I-15 enters from the southwest and passes west of Boulder before continuing north. Route 69 heads northeast from the Boulder area toward Jefferson City and Clancy, creating the clearest central-to-northern road corridor.
Basin appears west of Boulder as a separate small community area, while Elkhorn is labeled to the east. Farther north, Montana City and South Hills sit closer to the Helena side of the county. The road network is relatively easy to follow in these populated valleys but becomes much thinner in the broad mountain areas between them.
Helena, Helena West Side, and Helena Valley Southeast appear outside the county boundary as regional reference points. The map is useful for orientation, but current mountain-road conditions, seasonal restrictions, and unpaved-road access should be checked separately before travel.
Whitehall and Cardwell define the southern transportation zone
The southern road pattern looks different from the Boulder area. Around Whitehall, I-90, U.S. 2, and Route 10 run east-west through a broader lower valley. Routes 41 and 55 appear farther south, while Cardwell lies to the east and Route 287 reaches the southeastern boundary.
Rader Creek is labeled in a separate southwestern area, and Route 90 appears along the western side of the southern county. Roads coming south from Boulder meet this wider east-west transportation network near Whitehall, making Boulder and Whitehall two useful anchors for the full county map.
Jefferson County’s Road Department describes Montana City, Boulder, and Whitehall as its three road districts. That administrative pattern also works as a practical geographic guide: north, center, and south can be read as three distinct parts of the county.
Boulder and Whitehall are the two ranked cities
The city map ranks two places: Boulder and Whitehall. Its printed index lists Boulder at 1,284 and Whitehall at 1,156. These are values embedded in the supplied map and should not be treated as guaranteed current population estimates. Current demographic figures should be checked through recent U.S. Census Bureau data.
Boulder sits near the center of the county, while Whitehall lies much farther south. Surrounding labels include Powell, Broadwater, Gallatin, Deer Lodge, Lewis and Clark, Silver Bow, and Madison counties, placing Jefferson County among several major mountain counties of southwestern Montana.
No connector line or mileage label is printed between Boulder and Whitehall. The spacing should therefore be treated only as a location reference, not as straight-line distance or road mileage. Actual travel should be checked on the general road map and with current navigation information.
Boulder River and Little Boulder River divide the central mountains
The terrain-and-water map gives Boulder River the strongest role through the central interior. Little Boulder River approaches from the northwest, and North Fork Little Boulder River forms a separate branch farther west. Together they reveal a network of lower valleys cutting through otherwise rugged mountain terrain.
Smaller channels such as Brennan Gulch and Little Whitetail Creek add detail around the central section. These names are useful because the road map alone makes some mountain areas look nearly empty, while the water map shows that they are broken into many narrow drainage valleys.
The terrain-and-water map is intended for geographic reference. It does not establish flood zones, water depth, parcel boundaries, water rights, navigation conditions, or safe stream crossings. Current field conditions should be checked through the appropriate official sources.
Western creeks and mountain lakes create separate local landmarks
Basin Creek and Bison Creek occupy different western mountain valleys. Smaller tributaries descend into both channels, making them useful location references in a part of the county with few town or highway labels. These valleys remain distinct from the central Little Boulder River system.
Hidden Lake, Glenwood Lake, and Leslie Lake are grouped in the northeastern interior, while Northern Pacific Reservoir appears close to the northern boundary. Their locations provide clear landmarks within high, broken terrain where road labels are limited.
Delmoe Lake appears farther southwest, and Whitetail Creek with Fish Creek provides useful references in the southern part of the county. These southern drainages descend toward lower country near Whitehall and Cardwell, which becomes especially clear on the elevation map.
Elevation ranges from about 1,201 to 2,862 meters
The elevation map reports an actual county range of about 1,201 to 2,862 meters, with a mean elevation near 1,794 meters. The Boulder River and Little Boulder River valleys, the northeastern lowlands, and the Whitehall-Cardwell side appear in greener tones. Higher ridges rise across much of the west, center, and eastern mountain margins.
Several long mountain ridges run through the western and central county, separated by Basin Creek, Bison Creek, and Little Boulder River valleys. The east also contains high mountain blocks, although broad lower corridors interrupt the ridges. This produces a strongly varied landscape rather than one continuous mountain mass.
The southern county drops into lower terrain around Whitehall before rising again toward surrounding ridges. Fish Creek and Whitetail Creek occupy lower corridors through this section. The elevation map is intended for county-wide comparison only and should not be used as survey-grade or engineering-grade data for a specific property.
Boulder and Whitehall provide a simple way to organize the county
A practical way to read Jefferson County is to use Boulder as the central reference and Whitehall as the southern anchor. North of Boulder, Route 69 and I-15 lead toward Jefferson City, Clancy, and Montana City. Southward, the road system eventually opens into the I-90, U.S. 2, and Route 287 network around Whitehall and Cardwell.
Water features add more detail. Boulder River and Little Boulder River organize the central mountains, Basin and Bison creeks help with the west, and Whitetail and Fish creeks provide southern references. Hidden, Glenwood, and Leslie lakes are useful in the northeast, while Northern Pacific Reservoir marks the upper part of the county.
The WebP images embedded in the article are convenient for quick browsing. The high-resolution JPG files in the ZIP are better for printing or enlarging small road, creek, and lake labels. Because these are static reference maps, current road access, water conditions, and seasonal restrictions should be checked through current official information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the city map show the distance between Boulder and Whitehall?
No. The city map ranks and locates Boulder and Whitehall but does not print a connector line, straight-line distance, or road mileage between them. Use the general county map and current navigation information for an actual trip.
Where is the highest terrain in Jefferson County?
The highest terrain is concentrated across several western, central, and eastern mountain ridges. The Boulder River and Little Boulder River valleys, along with lower country around Whitehall, are generally much lower.
Can the 1,201–2,862 meter elevation range be used for a property or engineering project?
No. The range is a county-wide reference for comparing lower valleys with high mountain terrain. Precise site elevations should come from an authoritative source such as the USGS 3D Elevation Program and, when necessary, a professional survey.
Map File Information
Download the Jefferson County county, city, terrain-and-water, and elevation maps as high-resolution A3 JPG files.
- Included Files: county map, city map, terrain and water map, elevation map
- File Type: ZIP containing 4 JPG files
Related Maps
Sources and References
County government information is available from the official Jefferson County website. The Jefferson County Road Department describes the Montana City, Boulder, and Whitehall road districts and provides local road information.
Boundary and road-reference data can be checked through U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles. Hydrographic data are available from USGS National Hydrography, and elevation data through the USGS 3D Elevation Program.
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
