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1988 Map of Horse Butte

Name: 1988 Topographic Map of Horse Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Horse Butte rises as a prominent landmark on this high desert landscape along the border of Deschutes and Crook Counties. In the late 1980s, this area reflects a ranching-focused economy, characterized by scattered infrastructure like Goering Ranches Airstrip and numerous stock tanks designed for water management in an arid environment. The presence of Dry River and the Diversion Ditch near Willard Rd illustrates the complex history of water usage and agricultural development in this part of Oregon.

Surface drainage is dominated by ephemeral features such as Bear Creek and Williamson Creek, while transportation is limited to established routes like Horsell Road and various 4 WD tracks. A solitary Gravel Pit near the southern boundary suggests local resource extraction, serving the maintenance of rural county roads. The map provides a detailed look at the interface between private ranch lands and the open terrain of the high plateau.