1990 Map of De Bord Peaks

About this map

De Bord Peaks and Squaw Butte anchor this high-elevation corner of Malheur County, Oregon, where a complex network of canyons and gulches defines the watershed patterns. The landscape is marked by numerous water sources, indicated by dozens of individually plotted Spring and Springs labels, which feed into larger drainages like South Willow Creek and Cottonwood Creek. The presence of Sheep Dip Canyon and a Water Tank points toward the area's utility for livestock ranging, a common practice in the high desert hinterlands. Transportation is limited to a network of unimproved tracks, labeled as 4wd, which navigate between prominent features such as Timber Gulch and Black Canyon. This provisional survey provides a snapshot of the remote backcountry as it was managed in the late 1980s, documenting the vital locations of water and the rugged access routes used by ranchers and outdoorsmen.