1983 Map of Luna Butte

About this map

The Little Klickitat River cuts across the northern reaches of this landscape, a remote section of South Central Washington defined by the transition from the Klickitat Valley toward the dramatic rise of the Columbia Hills. This 1983 survey captures the area just as Lake Umatilla had become a permanent fixture of the southern boundary along the Columbia River. The map documents a sparsely populated terrain where water sources like Harper Spring and the drainage of Swale Creek were critical to the local geography. Significant topographic landmarks include Luna Butte and the adjacent Luna Gulch, which provide vertical contrast to the broad basin of the valley. A major utility Pipeline is shown traversing the southern hills, reflecting the infrastructure development connecting the Columbia River corridor to the interior highlands during the late twentieth century.