2014 Map of Burns Junction

About this map

Burns Junction serves as the focal point of this Malheur County landscape, situated where the Ion Hwy and Or-78 meet. This remote desert crossroads is defined by a vast drainage network, most notably the seasonal flow of Scott Butte Cr and Palomino Cr. The terrain is anchored by the prominent rise of Scott Butte, which overlooks the surrounding high desert plains. Evidence of water management in this arid environment is visible through the presence of Scott Ditch to the east. The map further documents the course of Crooked Cr and the appropriately named Drought Cr as they navigate the basin south of the junction. This 2014 survey records the infrastructure of the southeastern Oregon backcountry, from the established route of Powell Rd to the sprawling township and range sections that organize this sparsely populated region.