2015 Map of Deer Butte

About this map

The Continental Divide winds through this high-desert portion of Sweetwater County, marking a fundamental hydrologic boundary in the American West. The landscape is characterized by volcanic and erosional formations, most notably the Deer Butte and the volcanic Leucite Hills to the northeast. Early transportation routes are etched into the terrain, including the Freighters Gap Rd and the evocative Horse Thief Cyn, suggesting a history of passage and rugged utility long before modern paving. To the south, the topography descends into the North Baxter Basin, while distinctive landmarks like Twin Rocks and Cabin Butte provide fixed points for navigation across the sagebrush-covered reaches. This 2015 survey captures a sparsely populated region where the environment is defined more by its geological features and historical transit corridors than by modern settlement.