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2020 Map of Mormon Basin

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Mormon Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Mormon Basin is the central focus of this high-desert landscape along the border of Baker and Malheur Counties. The geography is defined by a dense network of gulches and draws, many bearing names that hint at the region's historical mining activity. Features such as Rich Gulch, Discovery Gulch, and Puget Sound Gulch radiate from the basin, while City Gulch and French Gulch suggest a legacy of early prospector settlements and claim-staking.

Water sources are vital in this arid terrain, with scattered points like Rooster Comb Spring, Mattie Spring, and Cube Spring providing necessary relief. The survey follows the winding Mormon Basin Rd and Mormon Basin Cutoff Rd, which connect the basin to the surrounding uplands like Sunday Hill and Spirit Hill. Northward, the landscape shifts toward Bear Valley and the drainage of N Fork Dixie Cr, illustrating the rugged drainage patterns that once dominated the local extraction economy.