2017 Map of Crows Nest

About this map

The Bruneau Desert landscape of southern Idaho is defined here by wide plateaus and descending drainage draws. The expansive Crows Nest Flat dominates the northwestern portion of the map, situated above the eponymous Crows Nest Draw. The terrain is marked by seasonal watercourses like Sailor Cr and Juniper Draw, which carve into the high desert floor. Human passage through this high, dry environment is facilitated by Balanced Rock Rd and Clover Rd, which represent the primary infrastructure in a region otherwise characterized by vast open range and cattle-ranching townships. The map illustrates the sparse, high-elevation topography where water management and long-distance travel routes were essential to the settlement of Owyhee County.