1989 Map of Bear Mountain

About this map

O'Neil Basin defines the high-altitude landscape of this remote border region between Nevada and Idaho in the late 1980s. The topography is dominated by the steep slopes of Bear Mountain and the western edge of the Humboldt National Forest, which gives way to a complex network of high-desert drainage systems. The North Fork Salmon Falls Creek and Bear Creek are central to the hydrology of the area, accompanied by numerous smaller seasonal flows like Shack Creek, Shell Creek, and Wilson Creek. Evidence of ranching operations in this isolated terrain is found at the Gully Ranch, situated along the lower elevations of the basin. The map captures the meeting point of Elko County and Twin Falls County, where the state line crosses through a landscape shaped by intermittent water sources such as Lime Creek and Willow Creek, reflecting the traditional land use and drainage patterns of the Great Basin's northeastern edge.