2014 Map of Misery Flat

About this map

Misery Flat and the surrounding high desert plateau characterize this area of central Oregon along the border of Crook and Deschutes counties. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the S Fork Crooked River which cuts through the volcanic terrain, carving deep contours into the earth. Evidence of the region’s hydraulic history is visible in the seasonal drainage of Buck Cr and several dry lake beds or sinks scattered across the flats. This 2014 survey documents a land primarily used for range and grazing, where the sparse network of gravel roads like Glass Butte Rd and SE GI Rd provides the only access through the vast public and private landholdings. The terrain transitions from the open expanses of the quadrangle's namesake flat into the increasingly complex ridges and draws of the surrounding high desert topography.