2017 Map of Austin Butte

About this map

Bruneau River carves a deep, serpentine path through this high desert plateau, creating the dramatic Bruneau Canyon and its East Fork Bruneau Canyon. The landscape is defined by vast, open spaces such as the Bruneau Desert, where elevation changes are marked by prominent landforms like Austin Butte, Big Hill, and the dual peaks of Twin Butte. This 2017 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey shows a largely arid environment where water is a critical and concentrated resource, found only at isolated spots like Salvador Lake, White Lake, and Miller Water. Human presence is minimal, primarily represented by the long stretch of Blackstone Grasmere Rd and the drainage of Clover Creek, illustrating the remote nature of southern Idaho's rangelands.