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2020 Map of Devils Backbone

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Devils Backbone
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Devils Backbone rises as the central geographic landmark in this high-desert region on the border of Sherman and Gilliam counties. The landscape is defined by its deep, wind-carved drainage systems, including Scott Canyon, Sixmile Canyon, and Spring Hollow. These natural corridors dictate the layout of the sparse road network, where routes like Hay Canyon Rd and Devils Butte Rd follow the contours of the high plateau.

A sense of early settlement history is preserved at Potters Cem, a lonely landmark situated amidst the vast drainage basins. Water remains the critical resource of the area, evidenced by the presence of Sevenmile Spring and the seasonal flow of Hay Cr. This survey illustrates the relationship between the dramatic topography of the Columbia Plateau and the limited infrastructure of the Oregon backcountry, where land management boundaries like Township 1 South, Range 20 East structure the open range.