2020 Map of Emerson Nipple

About this map

Hanford Reach National Monument and the Saddle Mountain National Wildlife Refuge converge in this high-desert landscape defined by the prominent basalt rises of Umtanum Ridge and Yakima Ridge. The northern boundary is shaped by a wide bend of the Columbia River, where features like China Bar and McCoy Canyon mark the shoreline. Much of the central terrain is occupied by the Yakima Training Center, an expanse of arid ground dominated by the namesake peak of Emerson Nipple. Scattered water sources such as Juniper Springs, Wissel Spring, and Barrel Springs represent critical resources in this rain-shadow environment, while ephemeral drainage like Cold Cr and Dry Cr cross the sagebrush-covered flats.