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2016 Map of Butterbowl

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Butterbowl
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Big Bend National Park occupies the southeastern corner of this West Texas landscape, where the Chihuahuan Desert meets the northern reaches of the park's protected wilderness. The geography is defined by a network of ephemeral watercourses and draws that cut through the high desert floor. Key drainage systems such as Chalk Draw, Bee Cave Canyon, and Javelina Draw carve the terrain, leading toward significant landmarks like Javelina Gap.

Human activity is concentrated along the unpaved transit corridors of Chalk Draw Ranch Rd and Cedar Springs Rd. These routes provide access to the sparse water resources that sustained early ranching efforts, most notably at Cedar Spring. Elevation changes are captured by the rising contours of Lower Flattop Hill and the distinctive landform known as the Butterbowl, illustrating the transition from desert flats to more complex canyon systems.