2024 Map of Horseshoe Bend

About this map

The John Day River carves a dramatic serpentine path through the high desert of Central Oregon, defining the boundary between Sherman and Gilliam counties. This 2024 survey captures the river's namesake Horseshoe Bend and the surrounding network of canyons that drain into this protected waterway, including Kelsey Canyon, Jackknife Canyon, and Combine Canyon. The landscape is dominated by high ridges and peaks such as Wolf Mtn, Adobe Point, and North Pole Ridge. While modern roads like Dobie Pt Rd and McInnes Rd provide access to these remote reaches, the map records numerous water sources vital to the region's ranching history, such as Horse Pasture Spring, Stakely Spring, and Warren Spring. This document serves as a modern record of a landscape defined by its deep canyons and critical river access points.