1965 Map of Coyote Rapids

About this map

The Columbia River carves a dramatic bend through this mid-century landscape, defined by the restricted operations of the Hanford Atomic Energy Commission Reservation. A sprawling network of the U S Govt Railroad serves the high-security installation, connecting facilities across the Cold Creek Valley. The terrain is marked by prominent basalt features like Gable Butte and Gable Mountain, rising above a floor of sand dunes and gravel pits. To the north, the Wahluke Slope overlooks the river's Coyote Rapids. This survey preserves the locations of several small company or support settlements, including Allard, Wahluke, and Riverland, along with infrastructure like the Vernita Bridge and the Yakima Barricade. The presence of the Hanford Ditch and numerous test wells reflects the intense hydrological and industrial management of this unique Cold War-era zone.