2017 Map of McCarthy Ridge

About this map

McCarthy Ridge and the volcanic prominence of Tub Mtn define this remote stretch of Malheur County, where the landscape is shaped by the search for water and the legacy of pioneer travel. The western edge of the quadrangle is traced by the Old Oregon Trl, a route that follows the historical corridor used by emigrants during the nineteenth-century westward expansion. Water management is central to the area's utility, evidenced by several strategically placed upland catchments including the McCarthy Ridge Reservoir, Tub Mountain Reservoir, and W Tub Mountain Reservoir. These reservoirs, along with numerous named seeps like Beirman Spring and McDowell Spring, support the ranching economy of the high desert. A network of primitive roads, including Mud Springs Rd and Dry Gulch Rd, connects these vital water sources across the breaks of Dry Gulch.