2012 Map of Hermit Butte

About this map

Hermit Butte and Manzanita Mountain dominate this landscape in the northern California high country. This survey illustrates a network of mountain roads and trails, many bearing names that hint at the region’s pioneering and ranching past, such as Stallion Rd, Oxen Rd, and Whiskey Flat Trl. Water is a defining element of the geography, with numerous named sources like Kelly Spring, Jackson Cabin Spring, and Doe Spring feeding the drainage basins of Rush Creek and Toms Creek. The presence of the Upper Rush Creek Campground and Big Lakes Camp suggests a modern landscape primarily utilized for recreation and resource management. Local history researchers can trace the detailed placement of these springs and the specific paths of minor waterways like Cottonwood Creek and Fitzhugh Creek as they navigated the volcanic terrain of Manzanita Ridge and Hunters Ridge.