2017 Map of McPherson Springs

About this map

McPherson Springs and the surrounding high-desert terrain of the Wyoming-Colorado border reveal a landscape defined by seasonal water management and historic stock movement. The presence of the Shell Creek Stock Trl and the Poison Buttes Rd underscores the area's importance for cattle and sheep ranching, where remote outposts like Hartt Cabin Draw served early settlers. The complex network of dry-land features, such as Clay Flat Reservoir, Anthill Reservoir, and Dry Reservoir, illustrates the precarious nature of water in this arid stretch of Sweetwater County. In the south, the terrain drops toward the Little Snake River as it crosses the state line, carving through the Cherokee Rim. This topography, dotted with distinctive landmarks like Hangout Wash and the Lower Soap Holes, remains a critical study in how geography dictated the expansion of western grazing routes.