1968 Map of Fish Lake

About this map

Steens Mtn dominates this high-altitude landscape of Harney County, where glacial carvings created a complex network of canyons and high-desert water sources. In the late 1960s, this area remained largely primitive, navigated primarily by a Jeep Trail system and the Loop road. The presence of Newton Cabin in the southern reaches of Indian Creek suggests early cattle ranching or seasonal outpost activity, while the established Fish Lake Campground marks the mid-century transition toward recreational use of these alpine resources. Hydrological features are densely concentrated here, from the headwaters of the Little Blitzen River to smaller, humorously named landmarks like Naughty Girl Meadow and Honeymoon Lake. The map records a rugged environment where seasonal drainages like Dry Creek and Mud Springs Creek underscore the importance of permanent water at Fish Lake and Pate Lake.