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1956 Map of Blue Butte

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Blue Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Volcanic landforms and military airspace dominate this 1950s Owyhee County landscape, where the Aerial Gunnery Range spans a large portion of the high desert plateau. Distinctive basaltic landmarks such as Blue Butte, Notch Butte, and Soldier Cap Butte rise above the surrounding terrain, serving as essential reference points in a region defined by its isolation. The map captures an era when the Air Force Reservation Boundary demarcated the land for strategic use, while cattlemen and travelers relied on the Castleford Road and Crows Nest Road to navigate the expanse.

Water is a critical and scarce resource here, evidenced by the presence of Pot Hole Reservoir and the drainage of Sailor Creek. The deep incision of the East Fork Bruneau Canyon in the southwest corner illustrates the erosive power of the local river systems cutting through the volcanic bedrock. Further north, the prominent Winter Camp Butte stands near the seasonal waters of the Pot Hole, marking a landscape where survival and movement were closely tied to the few available springs and catchments.