2016 Map of Dark Canyon

About this map

The South Wichita River winds through the northern portion of this King County landscape, carving a complex drainage system that defines the local topography. This 2016 survey captures a primarily rural expanse dominated by seasonal watercourses and deep incisions in the earth, most notably Dark Canyon and Spring Canyon. The network of creeks, including Newman Cr, Ash Cr, and Little Buffalo Cr, illustrates the hydrological pattern typical of the Rolling Plains, where water management is marked by features like the Dark Canyon Tank. Transport through this cattle-ranching country is limited to a few secondary routes such as Co RD 257 and Co RD 328, which intersect with the primary corridor of Highway 82 and Highway 114. The map reveals a landscape where human footprint is minimal, focused largely on the management of water and range land across the various forks of Croton Cr.