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2010 Map of Butterbowl

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of Butterbowl
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

Santiago Mountains dominate the horizon of this West Texas landscape, where the high desert meets isolated ranching outposts. The topographic detail reveals a network of arid drainage systems including Chalk Draw and Bee Cave Canyon, which carve through the limestone and volcanic terrain between the Black Hills and Red Mountian. This 2010 survey illustrates the sparse but deliberate human footprint in the Big Bend region, centered on local landmarks like Rixon Ranch and the eponymous Butterbowl settlement.

Transportation is defined by long, winding ranch roads such as Chalk Draw Ranch Rd and Cedar Springs Rd, which follow the natural contours of the land. Significant elevation changes are marked by features like Javelina Gap and Lower Flattop Hill, while seasonal watercourses like Upper Rotten Draw and Lower Rotten Draw highlight the region's complex hydrology. For those interested in the remote geography of Brewster County, the map provides precise locations for Rag Canyon and the broad Pluto Valley.