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2023 Map of Big Butte Springs

Name: 2023 Topographic Map of Big Butte Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2023
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2023

About this map

Rogue River National Forest defines this landscape in Jackson County, where a dense network of watercourses and forest service roads converges. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the Medford Aqueduct, which channels vital water resources through the terrain near Willow Creek. This infrastructure underscores the region's historical reliance on gravity-fed water systems for down-valley communities. Significant peaks and depressions like Grouse Ridge and Northern Glades break the forested slopes, while the Medco Railroad Grade serves as a tangible reminder of the timber industry's legacy and the logging rail networks that once moved wood across these mountains.

Water is the central theme here, with the North Fork Big Butte Creek and South Fork Big Butte Creek forming the primary drainages. Local landmarks like Mud Spring and Blue Cow Spring point to the subsurface hydrology that supports this high-elevation environment. Relics of local enterprise and transport, such as Pump Chance Pike and the Butte Falls-Prospect Rd, provide a modern framework for exploring this timber-rich portion of the Cascades.