1969 Map of Buttermilk Canyon

About this map

Hale Ridge dominates the northern landscape of this 1969 field-checked survey, overlooking a deeply incised network of drainages along the border of Morrow and Gilliam Counties. The area is defined by the convergence of several major watercourses, including Rock Creek, Buttermilk Creek, and Juniper Creek. This section of the Oregon interior displays a land use pattern focused on livestock and resource extraction, evidenced by the presence of a Gravel Pit, various corrals, and Storage Bins scattered across the high plateaus. Historic transport routes such as the Rood Trail and numerous Jeep Trails thread through the canyons, connecting family-named landmarks like Harshman, Fichter, and Hahn Canyons. The topography reveals the transition from high ridge lines to the winding Middle Fork and Long Hollow, illustrating the complex watershed system of the region during the late 1960s.