2023 Map of Mill City North

About this map

The North Santiam River and its fork, the Little North Santiam River, define the rugged geography of this Marion and Linn County borderland. The communities of Mill City and Gates anchor the southern edge of the map, where the river valley transitions into the steep elevations of the Cascade foothills. The intricate network of residential streets in Mill City, such as NW Alder St and SW Evergreen St, contrasts with the vast, undeveloped timberlands to the north. These uplands are marked by prominent summits including Lookout Mtn and House Mtn, alongside the high profile of Wildcat Ridge. This terrain is deeply etched by a complex drainage system, including the protected corridor of the Elkhorn Creek Wild and Scenic River. Researchers will find a landscape where the river-bottom settlements of Elkhorn Valley represent the thin margin of human habitation against the steep, creek-cut ridges of the Abiqua Basin.