1968 Map of Dalreed Butte

About this map

Willow Creek cuts a deep valley through the high desert of the Oregon interior, creating a corridor for vital transportation infrastructure. The Union Pacific railroad tracks follow the winding path of the water, a classic example of western rail engineering utilizing natural grades through arid landscapes. On the heights above the canyon, the map records the enduring paths of the Oregon Tr and the Immigrant Road, showing how early pioneer routes were still preserved across the plateaus of Morrow and Gilliam counties in the late 1960s. The landscape is a mix of shifting Sand Dunes and prominent basalt landmarks like Dalreed Butte. Evidence of rural activity and technical utility appears in isolated features such as Schoolhouse Canyon, a remote Test Site, and a few scattered water sources like Red Well.