2020 Map of Big Meadows

About this map

The Umatilla National Forest defines this high-elevation landscape in Umatilla County, where the headwaters of the N Fork Walla Walla River and Mill Creek carve through the plateau. This 2020 survey documents a transition between active forest management and conservation, notably within the protected Mill Creek Watershed in the north. The area is characterized by named flats and clearings like Little Meadows and Big Meadows, which historically served as vital landmarks for travel through the heavy timber. A network of primitive routes and footpaths, including the Indian Ridge Trail and Tiger Ridge Trail, trace the high spines of Low Ridge and Indian Ridge. Distinctive geological formations like The Horseshoe and Yellow Jacket Point provide anchor points for understanding the drainage patterns and physical geography of the Blue Mountains region.