2020 Map of Hurley Flat

About this map

Hurley Flat and the high desert plateaus of eastern Malheur County define this remote landscape, where water management is the primary marker of human activity. The terrain is a network of small, specialized catchment basins including Washboard Reservoir, Hurley Reservoir, and the uniquely named Upper Slim and Fatty Reservoir and Lower Slim and Fatty Reservoir. These features, along with Keeney Cr Reservoir Number Two and Keeney Cr Reservoir Number Three, suggest a land used extensively for livestock grazing, where every seasonal drainage is vital. Significant topographic landmarks such as Freezeout Mtn, Sourdough Mtn, and Deer Butte provide natural navigation points across the high country. To the south, the deep incision of Dry Creek Gorge and the prominence of Wall Rock Ridge break the plateau. The infrastructure is sparse, limited to specialized routes like the Dry Creek Cutoff and Freezeout Lake Rd, which connect the isolated springs and reservoirs that sustain life in this arid basin.