2023 Map of Black Rock Spring NE

About this map

Joint Base Lewis-McChord encompasses a significant portion of this landscape, reflecting the long-standing military presence in the region between the Yakima River and the Columbia Plateau. The terrain is defined by the sharp elevations of Umtanum Ridge and the Hog Ranch Buttes, which overlook a series of deep drainage features that carve through the arid high country. This environment is characterized by its dramatic verticality, where Alkali Canyon, Corral Canyon, and Cow Canyon reveal the complex hydrology of the watershed. Spanning the boundary between Kittitas and Yakima counties, the area shows very little civilian development, instead serving as a training ground and a preserve of natural topographic forms including Sourdough Canyon. The detailed contour lines illustrate the stark ridges and deep incisions that have historically dictated movement and land use in this part of Washington.