2020 Map of Benjamin Lake

About this map

Benjamin Lake sits at the southern reach of this arid basin along the border of Deschutes and Lake Counties. The landscape is defined by its intermittent hydrology and volcanic topography, where water sources like Mahogany Waterhole and Great Basin Waterhole provided essential stops in an otherwise dry high-desert environment. Notable high points such as Yreka Butte, Harder Butte, and East Butte rise above the surrounding flats, including Mahogany Flat and Trail Flat. The distribution of these named landmarks suggests a history of cattle ranging or early travel through the High Desert, as seasonal lakes like Rock Lake and Midway Lake appear scattered across the sections. The complex drainage patterns of Wells Draw and Elvies Canyon further reveal the erosional forces at work on the eastern slope of Benjamin Point, illustrating the geological character of the Oregon outback before more modern developments reached this remote interior.