2023 Map of Jackass Butte

About this map

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge marks the northeastern edge of this Harney County landscape, where the marshy lowlands meet the high desert plateau. This area is defined by sharp topographic transitions, particularly the Blitzen Valley corridor that provides a critical water source in an otherwise arid environment. The terrain rises sharply to the west, dominated by prominent volcanic features like Jackass Butte and the long, dark escarpment of Black Rim. A sparse network of primitive routes, including Jack Mountain Rd and Boulder Res Rd, traces the contours of the basin and range province. These roads likely serve the historic cattle ranching operations that have long shaped the cultural landscape of southeastern Oregon. The map illustrates the isolation and scale of the region, where settlement is represented more by land management boundaries and remote tracks than by towns or centers.