1968 Map of Ankle Creek

About this map

The Donner und Blitzen River winds through this high-desert landscape in Harney County, illustrating the isolated ranching and grazing life of the late 1960s. The map captures a series of remote outposts and family-named landmarks, including the Bill Taber Cabin and the Riley Huff Place. These sites, along with the Madarieta Cabin, indicate a history of seasonal habitation and livestock management in the shadow of Steens Mountain. Water is the defining resource here, marked by numerous Springs and the designated Public Waterhole. The network of Jeep Trails and the Spring Trail snake across Eusabio Ridge, connecting high-elevation grazing lands like Penland Meadow to the drainages of Ankle Creek and Deep Creek. This topographical study provides a detailed record of the essential infrastructure—from corrals to fords—required to sustain life and work in this corner of the Great Basin.