Loading map...

1988 Map of Desolation Butte

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Desolation Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Desolation Butte serves as a prominent landmark in this high-elevation reach of the Greenhorn Mountains, where the boundaries of the Umatilla National Forest and Malheur National Forest converge. The landscape is defined by a network of seasonal camps and specialized forest infrastructure, such as the Desolation Guard Station and the Lookout Tower atop the butte. Resource extraction is evidenced by the Skinner Mine and Donaldson Mine, while a system of primitive routes like the Location Trail and Pack Trail connect remote points of interest.

Water sources are vital to the area’s geography, with the North Fork Desolation Meadows and numerous springs like Cold Spring and Sunset Spring sustaining the various outposts. Higher peaks such as Jumpoff Joe Peak and Indian Rock overlook a terrain marked by numerous named camps, including Sponge Creek Camp and Meadow Camp, reflecting the historical use of these mountains for grazing, forestry, and fire surveillance.