1967 Map of Blue Canyon

About this map

The ghost of a once-booming gold rush settlement is preserved here at Auburn (Site), located in the shadow of Elkhorn Ridge. During the mid-1960s, this portion of the Whitman National Forest reveals a landscape heavily shaped by hydraulic mining and water management, evidenced by the Elk Creek Settling Tank and the remnants of the Old Auburn Res. The map provides a detailed look at the water systems required for these operations, tracing Littlefield Ditch as it winds through canyons like Freezeout Canyon and past several springs. To the west, the Powder River feeds into Phillips Lake, where a Gaging Station monitors the flow. Family history and small-scale habitation are marked by the Cem near the old townsite and the Malloy Cabin (Ruin) at the northern edge of the survey, offering a glimpse into the rugged lives of early Oregon miners and settlers.