2023 Map of Dust Bowl

About this map

Gilchrist Valley serves as the topographic centerpiece of this high desert landscape where the borders of Crook, Deschutes, and Harney counties converge. The terrain is defined by a series of evocative place names that speak to the challenges of the local environment, most notably the Dust Bowl and Misery Flat. These areas are drained by seasonal watercourses such as Swamp Creek and Buck Creek, which carve through the high-elevation flats. The road network is sparse, consisting of rural connectors like Allen Rd and Schraeder Rd that provide access to remote outposts and water sources like Juniper Spring. The map documents the precise surveyed boundaries between multiple townships, reflecting the systematic division of this arid interior region of Oregon.