1989 Map of Butler Ranch

About this map

Monitor Valley provides the backdrop for this high-desert landscape in central Nevada, where the valley floor meets the rising peaks of the Toiyabe National Forest. The map centers on the namesake Butler Ranch, a solitary settlement point located along the eastern edge of the valley. This area is defined by a series of seasonal drainages including Willow Creek and Horse Heaven Creek that flow from the steep canyons toward the lower basins. The terrain is marked by significant topographical variation, from the relatively flat valley bottom to the complex network of ravines like Long Canyon and Black Rock Canyon. Mapping these remote interior basins during the late twentieth century required a combination of mid-century aerial photography and later field checking to document the sparse infrastructure and natural water sources, such as the Spring located near the head of the canyon system.