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1971 Map of Black Butte

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Black Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Grande Ronde River carves a dramatic, winding path through the borderlands of Washington and Oregon, defining the physical and historical character of this 1970s landscape. This survey reveals a deeply incised terrain where the river negotiates tight bends like The Narrows, joined by tributaries such as Joseph Creek and Canyon Creek. The topography is dominated by steep-walled canyons and high points like Black Butte, with named drainage features such as Lathrop Gulch and Couse Gulch cutting into the surrounding plateaus.

Evidence of early ranching and rural life persists in the upper reaches of Weissenfels Ridge and the Craige Cem near Montgomery Gulch. Isolated cisterns and jeep trails indicate a land managed for grazing and transit in an era when much of the deep canyon country remained difficult to access. The boundary between Asotin Co. and Wallowa Co. bisects the river, marking the transition from the high ridges of Washington into the Oregon canyonlands.