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1951 Map of Desolation Butte

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Desolation Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Whitman National Forest and Umatilla National Forest dominate this 1951 study, revealing a landscape defined by resource management and early high-country industry. The network of forest service infrastructure is prominent, featuring the Forks Guard Station, Battle Creek Guard Station, and Desolation Guard Station positioned to monitor the vast timberlands. The mining history of the region is etched into the terrain at sites like Welch Creek Mine and Desolation Mine, while the presence of a pipe line near Olive Lake and its Upper Reservoir suggests sophisticated water and resource transport through the mountains.

Seasonal encampments and backcountry landmarks populate the drainage basins of Desolation Creek and the North Fork. Locations such as Log Table Camp, Mutton Camp, and Basin Camp indicate a history of logging, grazing, or surveying activity. From the height of Desolation Butte to the secluded Kelsey Meadows, the map provides a precise record of the trails and springs that served as the primary routes through this part of Grant County before more modern road development altered the access patterns of the Blue Mountains.