1969 Map of Mahogany Gap

About this map

Mahogany Mountain dominates this high-altitude landscape in Malheur County, where water sources dictate the movement of people and livestock across the high desert. By the late 1960s, a network of Jeep Trails provided the primary access to remote points like Mahogany Gap and Hawks Nest Reservoir. The area is defined by its numerous watering holes, including the curiously named Old Maids Spring, Old Maids Basin Springs, and Gap Spring, which feed into seasonal drainages such as South Fork Carter Creek and Mahogany Creek. This survey illustrates a rugged ranching and grazing environment where named landforms like Spring Mountain and Table Mountain served as vital navigation points. The presence of these named springs suggests the historical importance of localized water rights in this arid stretch of southeastern Oregon.