2020 Map of Cox Canyon

About this map

Cox Canyon and Clark Canyon carve through this high desert landscape of Harney County, illustrating a water-scarce environment managed through an extensive network of small reservoirs and catchment basins. Named features such as Cox Butte Reservoir and the uniquely titled End of the Trail Reservoir indicate the reliance on seasonal runoff to support livestock and land use in this arid region. The distribution of natural basins, including Buckaroo Lake, Big Lake, and Cox Grove Lake, alongside man-made improvements like the Bourbon Waterhole, reveals the infrastructure necessary for sustaining life and industry in the remote Oregon backcountry. Surveyed in the early 21st century, the map details the rugged topography and the essential relationship between the sparse natural hydrology and regional land management.