2011 Map of Mickey Springs

About this map

Mickey Butte dominates the arid landscape of this Harney County region, overlooking the expansive depression of Mickey Basin. This USGS survey documents a high-desert environment where water sources are vital but sparse. The namesake Mickey Springs and the northern Crippled Horse Spring represent critical water points in an otherwise dry drainage network. Further east, the map identifies Ancient Lake, providing evidence of the area's prehistoric hydrology. The lack of structured settlements or schools indicates the persistent isolation of this territory, where the infrastructure is limited to secondary roads and trails that navigate between volcanic features and dry lake beds.