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2014 Map of Murphy Waterholes

Name: 2014 Topographic Map of Murphy Waterholes
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2014
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2014

About this map

Pistol Lake and a series of vital desert water sources define this high-desert portion of Lake County. The landscape is marked by the presence of numerous isolated waterholes that likely served as critical stops for livestock and travelers in this arid region, including Murphy Waterholes, Zero Waterhole, and Westside Waterhole. Topographical features such as Cox Butte rise above the surrounding terrain, while seasonal drainages like Sixmile Draw carve through the basin.

Surface transportation is limited to established routes like Socket and Catlow, which follow the natural contours of the land to connect these distant water points. The map reflects a remote ranching or rangeland environment where survival is tied to the reliable locations of features like Cox Butte Waterhole and Socket Waterhole, highlighting the resource-dependent nature of settlement and movement in southern Oregon.