1972 Map of Fingers Butte

About this map

The expansive Lava fields of Butte County dominate this landscape, revealing a stark geological record of Idaho’s volcanic past. During the early 1970s, the terrain was characterized by a series of prominent volcanic landmarks, including Saddle Butte, Wildhorse Butte, and Cruthers Butte, which rise above the surrounding lava flows. Human presence in this high-desert environment is primarily marked by water management features essential for ranching and survival, such as the Sage Brush Reservoir and Fingers Butte Reservoir. A distinct topographic curiosity known as Huddles Hole provides a break in the elevated terrain, while remote infrastructure like Fingers Butte Well and other scattered wells indicates the ongoing efforts to secure water in this arid region. This survey captures a moment when the natural basalt formations dictated the placement of boundary lines and improved roads through the eastern Snake River Plain.