2017 Map of Circular Butte

About this map

Circular Butte rises prominently above the high desert floor in this 2017 study of the eastern Snake River Plain. The landscape is defined by its intermittent hydrology, where the Birch Creek Sinks serve as the terminal drainage for Birch Creek. This area illustrates the unique geological transition where surface waters from the northern mountains vanish into the porous basalt of the desert floor. The network of local roads, such as Snake Ave and Mc Kinley Blvd, follows the rectilinear patterns of the Public Land Survey System, cutting across the arid terrain. Traces of historical waterways are evident in the Dry Channel Big Lost River, showing the shifts in water flow across this portion of Jefferson and Butte counties. The map provides a clear view of the vast, open infrastructure of the region, including Canal Rd and the straight-line paths of E Monument Line Rd.