2017 Map of Olson Springs

About this map

Olson Springs and Smiley Springs highlight the critical role of water sources in this high-desert reach of the Great Divide Basin. The landscape is defined by the broad Buffalo Basin and the distinct volcanic or erosional forms of the Flattop Buttes along the Sweetwater and Fremont county line. Human activity is evidenced by a network of back-country routes including the Riverview Cutoff, Buffalo Basin Rd, and Bison Basin Rd, which provide access to range improvements like the McKay Reservoirs. Drainages such as Stinking Springs Draw, W Alkali Cr, and E Alkali Cr underscore the alkaline nature of the local hydrology, essential for understanding the historical grazing patterns and land use of the Wyoming interior during the early 21st century.