Square Butte, is a name for two separate but prominent topographic features in Montana. There is a Square Butte located in Cascade County, Montana, about 22 miles due west of Great Falls. There is another Square Butte located in Chouteau County, Montana about 50 due east of Great Falls, and about 15 due east of the Highwood Mountains. Charles M. Russell, the noted Montana western artist often utilized both features as background in his paintings.
Square Butte, Cascade County, Montana
editSquare Butte in Cascade County, Montana is located at 47°25'39.48"N, 111°44'57.39"W, about 22 miles due west of the city of Great Falls, Montana. The highest elevation of the Cascade County Square Butte is 1462 m / 4797 ft. This Square Butte in Cascade County is easily visible for many miles around. For example it is a prominent feature on the northern skyline as a motorist travels along Interstate 15, west of Great Falls in the vicinity of mile marker 264. It is also visible on the southern skyline while traveling on Montana Highway 200 in the vicinity of Sun River and Fort Shaw. To the west of Square Butte is another topographic feature, Crown Butte.
Lewis and Clark Pass crosses the continental divide at the crest of the Rocky Mountains Chain which lie way to the west of the Cascade County Square Butte. From that pass on July 7, 1806, the explorer Meriwether Lewis saw Square Butte on the skyline of the eastern Montana prairies. From that pass on a clear day, the Cascade County Square Butte can still be seen, about 40 miles out in the eastern Montana grasslands.
Square Butte, Chouteau County, Montana
editSquare Butte in Chouteau County, Montana is located at110°14'39.13"W, 47°28'10.26"N, about 50 miles due east of the city of Great Falls, Montana, and about 15 miles due east of the center of the Highwood Mountains. The highest elevation of the Chouteau County Square Butte is 1749 m/5740 ft. This Square Butte also forms a unique and easily visible landmark on the horizon. It is visible from Montana Highway 3 between Geyser and Stanford, Montana. It is also visible from Montana Highway 80 between Stanford and Geraldine, Montana, which passes just to the east of the butte. The small almost dormant town of Square Butte, Montana lies just at the base of the butte, on Montana Highway 80. About 4 miles to the west of this Square Butte is a smaller feature, Round Butte.