1956 Map of Crater Rings

About this map

The Crater Rings dominate this volcanic high-desert landscape in Elmore County, appearing as two distinct depressions amidst a network of modern and historic transportation corridors. The Union Pacific railroad and a primary Highway cut diagonally across the terrain, passing through the small settlements of Cleft and Sebree. Traces of the region's pioneering past are visible in the path of the Old Oregon Trail, which runs nearly parallel to the tracks, while more recent infrastructure is represented by the Airway Beacon and an extensive Pipeline. To the south, the landscape is defined by the Military Reservation Boundary, marking the northern edge of the Mountain Home Air Force Base Gunnery Range. Water management is central to this environment, with scattered reservoirs, the Fraser Reservoir, and the Lamberton Canal illustrating the efforts to control the arid drainage of the various unnamed canyons and creeks.