2020 Map of McDonald Spring

About this map

Saddle Mountains dominate the northern terrain of this Kittitas County region, where the ridge slopes descend into a network of intermittent drainages. The landscape is defined by the high-elevation ridges of the western plateau, cut by seasonal watercourses such as Foster Cr and Badger Cr. Central to the map is McDonald Spring, a critical water source in an otherwise arid environment. Along the northern border, the Palouse To Cascades State Park Trail follows a high-elevation corridor, marking a modern recreational use of the historic cross-state rail route. The southern portion of the quadrangle transitions into the drainage basins of Hanson Cr and Cottonwood Cr, eventually reaching the main stem of Lmuma Cr. This USGS survey illustrates the characteristic section-line grid system typical of Washington's inland plateaus, where land divisions are superimposed over significant topographic relief.